James Barbut's Insectorum (1781)
[Text discription below]
10052
Les Genres Des Insectes De Linne by James Barbut:
English 1781. 4to (10.75 X 8.75 X 2 in.). The Genera Insectorum of Linnaeus Exemplified by Various Specimens of English Insects drawn from Nature by James Barbut. James Barbut, sometimes Jacques (1776 ?-1791 or 1799) was an English painter and naturalist. He spent the bulk of his life absorbed in the fascination of the world around us, collecting and cataloging insects, butterflies, sea shells, etc. and then presenting his findings in fabulous portfolios of colored, original paintings. In this work, Barbut attempted to illustrate the major scientific insect groups first proposed by the naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 (1-3).
This is the first work by J. Barbut in 1781. Additional engraved title page. 2 plain and 20 hand-colored plates on chine, mounted, many heightened in gum Arabic. Contemporary calf, rebacked, gilt borders. The published list of subscribers is 147, including James Barbut himself as well as his brother Steven. This indicates that this first edition is limited to an initial printing of 147 copies, making this work extremely rare. Among the list of subscribers is a good cross section of British aristocracy: 1. Jofeph Banks (Prefident of the Royal Society.) 2. Lady Fletcher 3. Dr. Pitcairn 4. Col. Montrefor 5. Duchefs of Dowager
[Nissen ZBI 220] (4)
Works by James Barbut: • Barbut, J. 1781. The genera insectorum of Linnæus exemplified in various specimens of English insects drawn from nature. Les genres des insectes de Linné; constatés par divers échantillons d'insectes d'Angleterre, copiés d'après nature. London. (Dixwell). • Barbut, J. 1783. The genera vermium exemplified by various specimens of the animals contained in the orders of the Intestina et Mollusca Linnæi. Drawn from nature. London. (Dixwell). • Barbut, J. 1788. The genera vermium of Linnæus part 2d. Exemplified by several of the rarest and most elegant subjects in the orders of the Testacea, Lithophyta, and Zoophyta Animalia, accurately drawn from nature. With explanations in English and French. London. (White). Curator's Footnotes: • An album of the 126 original watercolours depicting insects for this work, is held in the Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD TEL: +44 020 7942 5000; www.nhm.ac.uk The collection is owned by the Royal Entomological Society and is available for viewing by appointment only. Bibliography: 1. Evenhuis, N.L. (1997) Litteratura Taxonomica Dipterorum (1758-1930), Vol 1, (A-K); Vol 2, (L-Z). Leiden, Backhuys Publishers 1; 2: VII+1=426; 427-871. 2. Damkaer, D.M. (2002) The Copepodologist's Cabinet. A Biographical and Bibliographical History. Philadelphia, American Philosophical Society: XIX+1-300, zahlr. Fig. 3. Lisney, A.A. (1960) A Bibliography of British Lepidoptera 1608-1799. London. 4. Nissen, Claus (1969) Die Zoologische Buch Illustration Ihr Bibliographie und Geschichte Stuttgart; Anton Hiersemann.
English 1781. 4to (10.75 X 8.75 X 2 in.). The Genera Insectorum of Linnaeus Exemplified by Various Specimens of English Insects drawn from Nature by James Barbut. James Barbut, sometimes Jacques (1776 ?-1791 or 1799) was an English painter and naturalist. He spent the bulk of his life absorbed in the fascination of the world around us, collecting and cataloging insects, butterflies, sea shells, etc. and then presenting his findings in fabulous portfolios of colored, original paintings. In this work, Barbut attempted to illustrate the major scientific insect groups first proposed by the naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 (1-3).
This is the first work by J. Barbut in 1781. Additional engraved title page. 2 plain and 20 hand-colored plates on chine, mounted, many heightened in gum Arabic. Contemporary calf, rebacked, gilt borders. The published list of subscribers is 147, including James Barbut himself as well as his brother Steven. This indicates that this first edition is limited to an initial printing of 147 copies, making this work extremely rare. Among the list of subscribers is a good cross section of British aristocracy: 1. Jofeph Banks (Prefident of the Royal Society.) 2. Lady Fletcher 3. Dr. Pitcairn 4. Col. Montrefor 5. Duchefs of Dowager
[Nissen ZBI 220] (4)
Works by James Barbut: • Barbut, J. 1781. The genera insectorum of Linnæus exemplified in various specimens of English insects drawn from nature. Les genres des insectes de Linné; constatés par divers échantillons d'insectes d'Angleterre, copiés d'après nature. London. (Dixwell). • Barbut, J. 1783. The genera vermium exemplified by various specimens of the animals contained in the orders of the Intestina et Mollusca Linnæi. Drawn from nature. London. (Dixwell). • Barbut, J. 1788. The genera vermium of Linnæus part 2d. Exemplified by several of the rarest and most elegant subjects in the orders of the Testacea, Lithophyta, and Zoophyta Animalia, accurately drawn from nature. With explanations in English and French. London. (White). Curator's Footnotes: • An album of the 126 original watercolours depicting insects for this work, is held in the Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD TEL: +44 020 7942 5000; www.nhm.ac.uk The collection is owned by the Royal Entomological Society and is available for viewing by appointment only. Bibliography: 1. Evenhuis, N.L. (1997) Litteratura Taxonomica Dipterorum (1758-1930), Vol 1, (A-K); Vol 2, (L-Z). Leiden, Backhuys Publishers 1; 2: VII+1=426; 427-871. 2. Damkaer, D.M. (2002) The Copepodologist's Cabinet. A Biographical and Bibliographical History. Philadelphia, American Philosophical Society: XIX+1-300, zahlr. Fig. 3. Lisney, A.A. (1960) A Bibliography of British Lepidoptera 1608-1799. London. 4. Nissen, Claus (1969) Die Zoologische Buch Illustration Ihr Bibliographie und Geschichte Stuttgart; Anton Hiersemann.