CRAMER, P. & STOLL, C.

Papillons exotiques des trois parties du monde l'Asie, l'Afrique et l'Amerique/ De uitlandsche Kapellen voorkomende in de drie Waereld-deelen Asia, Africa en America.

Eur 35,000 / USD 38,500
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Amsterdam, S.J. Baalde/ N.T. Gravius, 1779-1791. 4 volumes & supplement (bound in 5). Large-4to (305 x 235mm). With 3 (2 handcoloured) engraved frontispieces and 442 handcoloured engraved plates. Contemporary half calf, spines in 6 compartments with red and green gilt lettered labels and gilt ornaments (slightly rubbed).

celebrated as the first book on Exotic Butterflies arranged in accordance with the Linnean system and provided with coloured plates

The most beautiful early iconography on exotic butterflies complete with the very scarce supplement. The work is justly celebrated as the first book on Exotic Butterflies arranged in accordance with the Linnean system and provided with coloured plates. Pieter Cramer, died 1777 after the eighth installment was ready for press and the publication was continued by Stoll. "By trade Cramer was a Dutch merchant; his company traded in 'Spanish woolens' (sic). He was a man of some wealth, and he indulged quite lavishly his large cabinet of 'natural curiosities'. Cramer corresponded extensively with fellow butterfly-lovers all over Europe and knew of their collections and publications. He became fascinated by the butterflies of the East and West Indies in particular and purchased many specimens for his own collection. Having decided to start work on his great magnum opus, he employed the Dutch artist Gerrit Wartenaar Lambertz to paint the specimens both from his own cabinet and many others... some 1,650 different species are illustrated with both the upper und underside of the wings" (P. Gilbert, Butterfly Collectors and Painters p. 56). Throughout the book names of the following owners of Cabinets are mentionned such as: Pieter Boddaert, Houttuin, P. Luchtmans, Prince Willem, Baron van Rengers and many others. The descriptive text is printed in double columns in Dutch and French. The list of subscribers lists famous naturalists such as: P. Boddaert, N.L. Burman, D. Drury, J.C. Fuesli, C. de Geer, Geoffroy, P. Lyonet, Th. Martyn, J.C. Sepp, M. Slabber, C. Stoll, C.P. Thunberg, A.L. Wirsing as well as the Prince van Orange. A large uncut copy.

Landwehr 53; Nissen ZBI, 985.