Beschreibung:

Ten original watercolour paintings for An Epitome of the Natural History of Insects of China, (T. Bensley, 1798), together ten watercolour and gouache paintings on card, heightened with gum arabic, sheet size 26 x 20.5cm (10.25 x 8ins) and slightly smaller, mounted on thick paper album leaves, within sepia ink ruled or printed border, carefully titled in ink above 'Chinese Lepidoptera [or Neuroptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera]' and below with title of insect (and sometimes the plant), both within ruled frame, mount size 36 x 26cm (14 x 10.25ins) Provenance: Private Collection, Gloucestershire. Edward Donovan'spublication 'An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of China' was published by the author in 1798, and contains over 100 engraved plates. Those offered here bear the following inscriptions: 1.Aeshna Clavata 2.Libellula & Maenlata 3.Lillula Indica; +Buprestis Occellata *Buprestis Vittata. Canna Indica (Indian Shot); 1.Cerambyx Reticulator 2.Scaraboeus Nasicornis 3.Scaraboeus Seniculus 4.Scaraboeus Cinctus 5.Scaraboeus Lea 6.Cerambyx Farinosus 7.Curulio Sqamosus 8.Sagra Femorata; Papilio Rhetenor var. Papilio Menelaus. Thea Stricta (Tea tree); +Papilio Sesia *Hesperia Macenas **Papilio Leomedon; 1.Papilio Bernardis 2.Phaloena Pagaria 3.Papilio Glaucippe 4.Hesparia Atymnus; +Papilio Jacintha *Papilio Antiochus; Gryllus Morbillosus; 1.Papilio Telamon 2.Phalaena Bubo 3.Phaloena Zonaria. Phyllanthus Turbenatus; 1.Papilio Telamon 2. Papilio Labentina 3.Papilio Bernardis. (10)