The English Entomologist. Exhibiting all the Coleopterous Insects Found in England: Including upwards of 500 different Species, The Figures of which have never before been given to the Public

Thomas Martyn

Published by Thomas Martyn At his Academy for Illustrating and Painting Natural History, Great Marlborough Street, London, 1792

About this Item

A very good copy of the scarce 1st edition of 'The English Entomologist' with 44 plates of which 42 are hand coloured. The author, Thomas Martyn (1760-1816) is often confused with Thomas Martyn the noted botanist, and relatively little is known about him other than that he was a zoologist writing on conchology and entomology and that he founded an Academy for young men of artistic talent to learn about drawing and painting natural history subjects. This work was the second of the Academy's publications (the first being on shells) and was intended to be the first of three entomological works. Martyn was keen to ensure that only species found in England were included and that every effort was made to classify them properly. The illustrations are life size with the intention of improving accuracy. The plates are exceptionally well drawn and coloured. This copy is in what look to be the publisher's marbled boards with the addition of a green calf spine and corners. The boards measure circa 37 x 29 cms and the paper is untrimmed. The spine has gilt titles and gilt decorative bands. There is the armorial bookplate of William Danby Esq, of Swinton Park, with his signature above, on the front pastedown endpaper. Danby (1752-1833) was a writer of philosophical works who rebuilt his Swinton Park house and had a replica of Stonehenge constructed in its grounds as a Druid Temple - a site which is still visited today. Contents: initial blank; engraved title; dedication to Charles IV; plates of coins from Aurea Numismata x 2; Preface pp 1-8; Introduction to Entomology pp 9-16; Orders of Insects pp 17-33 (with end note that the printing was by The Shakespeare Press by W Bulmer and Co); 42 hand coloured plates. The binding is clean and sound. The spine has wear to the ends and a small circa 5 cm split from the top down the rear spine joint. The board have scuffing and some loss to the marbled paper along the edges. The contents are in very clean condition. The plates are clean - there is some browning to the side edge of plate 24, a small ink mark to the side of plate 38 and 2 small spots on plate 39. The plates with the smallest beetles have them arranged in patterns and as the beetles are also pictured with little shadows underneath them, this has the effect of making them look as if they are being trained. There is light marking on the endpapers and some offsetting, particularly from the engraved title and the coin plates. Please enquire if you would like to see additional images.

Seller Inventory # 033523

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The English Entomologist. Exhibiting all the Coleopterous Insects Found in England: Including upwards of 500 different Species, The Figures of which have never before been given to the Public
• Publisher: Thomas Martyn At his Academy for Illustrating and Painting Natural History, Great Marlborough Street, London
• Publication Date: 1792
• Language: English
• Binding: Half-Leather
• Illustrator: Thomas Martyn et al
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • Entomology/Insects
  • Invertebrates