![ABBOT, John (1751-1839) and Sir James Edward SMITH (1759-1828). The Natural History of the Rarer Lepidopterous Insects of Georgia. London: T. Bensley for J. Edwards, Cadell and Davies, and J. White, 1797 [but ca 1822].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2016/NYR/2016_NYR_12262_0102_000(abbot_john_and_sir_james_edward_smith_the_natural_history_of_the_rarer102152).jpg?w=1)
PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
ABBOT, John (1751-1839) and Sir James Edward SMITH (1759-1828). The Natural History of the Rarer Lepidopterous Insects of Georgia. London: T. Bensley for J. Edwards, Cadell and Davies, and J. White, 1797 [but ca 1822].
Details
ABBOT, John (1751-1839) and Sir James Edward SMITH (1759-1828). The Natural History of the Rarer Lepidopterous Insects of Georgia. London: T. Bensley for J. Edwards, Cadell and Davies, and J. White, 1797 [but ca 1822].
First edition, later issue. “Abbot was a most assiduous collector, and an admirable draftsman of insects. [This] work is one of the most beautiful that this or any other country can boast of” (Swainson, quoted by Sabin).
2 volumes, folio (401 x 313 mm). 104 hand-colored engraved plates by John Harris after Abbot, some heightened with gum-arabic. Parallel text in English and French, with index also in Latin. (Occasional light darkening, spotting and offsetting.) Contemporary maroon straight-grained morocco gilt, covers with borders of blind and gilt foliate rolls, gilt turn-ins, flat spines gilt lettered and decorated, gilt edges, (some light rubbing and scuffing). Provenance: Albert Edgar Lownes (bookplate). Nissen ZBI 2.
Born in Turnham Green, London in 1751, Abbot went to Virginia in 1773, then travelled south to Georgia in 1775, where he spent much of his long life compiling a scientific record of local birds and insects. In order to publish in London, the entomologist needed the co-operation and support of Sir James Smith, co-founder and first president of the Linnean Society. Smith, in the preface, praises Abbot highly as the first author “since the celebrated, though not very accurate, Merian,” to illustrate and describe the lepidoptera of the American continent scientifically, including both representations of the caterpillars and “the plants on which each insect chiefly feeds.” Like the Botfield copy (sale, Christie's London, 13 June 2002, lot 125), this copy is a later issue of ca 1822 (the date of the watermarks on some plates is 1820-22). Arnold Arboretum p. 27; BM(NH) I, p.2; Dunthorne 287; Sabin 25.
First edition, later issue. “Abbot was a most assiduous collector, and an admirable draftsman of insects. [This] work is one of the most beautiful that this or any other country can boast of” (Swainson, quoted by Sabin).
2 volumes, folio (401 x 313 mm). 104 hand-colored engraved plates by John Harris after Abbot, some heightened with gum-arabic. Parallel text in English and French, with index also in Latin. (Occasional light darkening, spotting and offsetting.) Contemporary maroon straight-grained morocco gilt, covers with borders of blind and gilt foliate rolls, gilt turn-ins, flat spines gilt lettered and decorated, gilt edges, (some light rubbing and scuffing). Provenance: Albert Edgar Lownes (bookplate). Nissen ZBI 2.
Born in Turnham Green, London in 1751, Abbot went to Virginia in 1773, then travelled south to Georgia in 1775, where he spent much of his long life compiling a scientific record of local birds and insects. In order to publish in London, the entomologist needed the co-operation and support of Sir James Smith, co-founder and first president of the Linnean Society. Smith, in the preface, praises Abbot highly as the first author “since the celebrated, though not very accurate, Merian,” to illustrate and describe the lepidoptera of the American continent scientifically, including both representations of the caterpillars and “the plants on which each insect chiefly feeds.” Like the Botfield copy (sale, Christie's London, 13 June 2002, lot 125), this copy is a later issue of ca 1822 (the date of the watermarks on some plates is 1820-22). Arnold Arboretum p. 27; BM(NH) I, p.2; Dunthorne 287; Sabin 25.