Paris, 1779-1780-1792.
8 volumes large 4to of: I/ (4) ll., 1 colored frontispiece, xxxiv pp., 206 pp., (1) l. between pp. 86 and 87, (1) l. of notice of the editors, xi pp., 51 plates including 3 in black for the Instruction sur la chasse et le développement des papillons which occupies pp. 87 to 111; II/ (3) ll., 1 colored frontispiece, pp. 207 to 343, (1) p. of Additions and corrections, 44 plates in color; III/ (2) ll. x pp. 132 pp, 38 plates in color, IV/ (3) ll. 1 frontispiece, 215 pp, (1) l. errata, 49 plates in color; V/ (2) ll. 152 pp (gap in the pagination from pp. 90 to 93), (1) l. Avis, 39 plates; VI/ (2) ll, 176 pp. 47 plates, (1) l. errata; VII/ (2) ll. 173 pp. 48 plates in color, (1) l. errata, (1) f. Avis; VIII/ (1) l. 157 pp. 37 plates, (1) l. Avis. That is to say in total 3 engraved frontispieces of which 2 in color, 350 plates in color and 3 in black.
Full marbled blond calf, triple gilt fillet around the covers, gilt flower at the corners, flat spines decorated with three gilt butterflies, blued edges. Extremely rare and beautiful contemporary binding with gilt butterflies.
291 x 227 mm.
First edition of the most beautiful early French book on butterflies.
Nissen ZBI, 1300; Hagen, p. 213; Horn-Schenkling 6051; Graesse II, 498; Brunet, II, 1048-1049; A. Birembaut, Les frères Engramelle: VIII° Congrès International d’Histoire des Sciences (1956), p. 149.
Superb work “well executed” (Brunet).
The illustration in the first issue includes 3 frontispieces and 350 full-page plates presenting more than 3 000 butterflies and insects entirely hand-painted and enhanced with gold or silver after watercolors by J.J. Ernst.
The prints are numbered 1 to 342 with an additional 8 plates placed in volume II. The work also features 3 frontispieces, 2 of which are in superb coloring, and 3 plates in black of capture and treatment instruments.
“Father Engramelle, born in Artois on March 24, 1727, devoted himself to the study of sciences, and particularly music. He was especially interested in keyed instruments and their construction. Engramelle is also responsible for all that relates to noting in Dom Bedos’ “Art du facteur d’orgues”. He is also the author of an instrument which gives the geometrical division of sounds in order to fix the uncertainty of the tuners. “He is also the author of the description of the “Insects of Europe, painted after nature by Ernst”, containing caterpillars, chrysalids and butterflies”.
A sumptuous copy, complete, with a very beautiful coloring, from an edition of 250 copies and one of the very rare recorded in contemporary blond calf decorated with 24 gilt butterflies.
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