Author: LESSER, F.C.- LYONET, P. [transl. & ed.].- Entomology.- Physico-Theology.-Lyonet 1742
Title: Theologie des Insectes, Ou Demonstration Des Perfections De Dieu Dans tout ce qui concerne les Insectes. TRADUIT de lallemand de Mr. Lesser [by Cantillon]. Avec des Remarques de Mr. P. Lyonnet. Tome Premier [- Tome Second [Transl. and annotated by Pieter Lyonet].
Description: La Haye, Chez Jean Swart, Libraire dans le Toornstraat, 1742. In 2 vols. Small 8vo., W. woodc. floral vignet on printed titles, several woodc. head- and tailpieces, 2 engr. fold. pls. (Plate 1 metamorphosis in 4 classes, described on pp. 152 - 164 & plate 2 depiction of beehive construction, described on pp. 312 - 315). ['P.Lyonet ad viv. delin. J. v. Schley sculp.']. Contemp. uniform mottled full clf., flat spine w. elaborate floral gilttooling, w. red titleshields, giltlettered. Spine ends w. imperfections showing the head-bands, edges of covers some rubb., corners more so showing the core, outer hinges a bit tender.). [vol. I: n2, *2, 3 in 2, A -X8, Y7; Vol. II: n2, A - T8, V7]. (XII, 350; IV, 317, I (blank) pp.). (Ex Bibliotheca W.H. van Seters, see note, with his bookplates on upper paste downs.). (Throughout vol. I. light to medium browning & foxing of text; a few quires more so. Vol. II medium to heavy browning up to p. 140, else lighter.). (Pencil annotation of verso free marbled endp. vol. I: '1932 12,50 Hertzberger' , Hertzberger was a famous dutch auctioneer and antiquarian bookseller) First edition 1742 of the French translation of Lesser's "Insecto - Theologia" [1738 - 1740 & 1758 originally publ. in German without ills., see Nissen ZBI, 2460, note], a 2nd ed. followed 1745, a third in 1747: DSB VIII, pp. 579/80: 'Lyonet, like Bonnet, first became interested in the study of insects through reading Pluche's Natural History, but he was inspired to study them seriously by the first volume (on "Chenilles et papillons") of Réaumur's 'Memoires', which appeared in 1734. Réaumur's influence on Lyonet was decisive, ... Lyonet, who had respect for few naturalists, praised only Swammerdam and Réaumur. From [him] he learned method and the importance of being exceedingly careful. Lyonet began systematic observation on insects in 1736. In 1738 he undertook to correct and expand a translation of F.C.Lesser's Insectotheologica. Lyonet's annotations of the translation indicate that he was familiar with the subject and that his ideas on the general biological problems of his time were already formed; ideas on classification and generation found in the notes to Lesser also appear in the Traité anatomique of 1760 and in the posthumously published Recherches. .... The 'Traité' was begun in 1745. Lyonet had originally planned a treatise on all the insects in the vicinity of The Hague ...[but] decided to establish his own reputation in micro-anatomy. ... He believed first, that the world and all its creatures are a vast cipher and, second, that the duty of man is to decode it.' [Lyonet was an expert cryptologist for the States General and mastered 8 languages]: : Nissen Zool. Buchill., item 2460: G&M item comp. 305 on his Traité: 'Lyonet's great monograph on the goat moth caterpillar remains today among the greatest examples of anatomical examination.': Eales, Cole libr. of medicine, item 1484 [1742] : Cole, Hist. of comparative anatomy, pp. 256, 310 'The modern morphologist, armed with highly efficient binocular microscopes, would be severely taxed to excel, or even to repeat, Swammerdam's dissections of the body louse, Leeuwenhoek's analysis of commercial cochineal, and Lyonet's beautiful preparations of the larva of the goat moth.': W.H. van Seters, Pierre Lyonet (1706 - 1789) sa vie, ses collections de coquillages et de tableaux, ses recherches entomologiques, [Den Haag, Nijhoff, 1962]: Smit, Hist. of Life Sciences, c. 979-980: Clay & Court, The History of the microscope [London, 1932], pp. 59 - 60: Cole, Early Theories of sexual generation [Oxford, 1930]: Miall, The Early Naturalists, Their Lives and Work (1530 - 1789) [London, 1912]...: Emile Hublard, 'le naturaliste hollandais Pierre Lyonet, sa vie et ses oeuvres 1706 - 1789, in "Memoires et publications de la Soc. des sciences, ...du Hainaut (vol. 61, 1910), pp. 1 - 159: Pieter Lyonet was an excellent draughtsman and cryptologist. He is indebted as an illustrator to Hendrik van Limborch, Carel de Moor and Jan Wandelaar. His illustrations in this publications drawn by Lyonet and engraved by Jan van der Schley. Other important illustrations were made for Trembley's 'Memoires pour servir... polypes d'eau douce' [1744] and his own beautiful illustrations in 18 folding plates in his 'Traité anatomique de la chenille...'[1760, 1762]. This copy from the estate / library of W.H. van Seters, biologist and member of the Leeuwenhoek committee in the 1930ties.

Keywords: biology behandelen dissection Z10 bdrb2