Botany · 18th century
€ 370
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Light overall toning consistent with early 18th-century paper. Minor age-related surface marks and faint spotting. Hand coloring remains clear and well preserved.
This set of two original hand-colored copper engravings by Eleazar Albin comes from A Natural History of English Insects, published in London in 1720. The paired plates depict English moths shown together with their caterpillars, pupae, and host plants, presented in Albin’s distinctive life-cycle format that unites scientific documentation with refined decorative design.
The first plate is dedicated by Albin “To the Right Honorable John Lord Ashburnham.” It shows caterpillars feeding on broad-leaved woodland plants, likely nettle or related hedgerow foliage, with sharply serrated leaves. Adult moths are depicted in soft grey and brown tones, shown both with wings spread and at rest. The chrysalis and egg stages are included near the lower edge of the composition, emphasizing the complete metamorphosis of the insect. The restrained palette and careful engraving give this plate a calm, balanced appearance.
The second plate bears a dedication “To the Right Honorable Elizabeth Bruce, Countess of Cardigan.” It features caterpillars feeding on finely divided, aromatic foliage resembling mugwort or wormwood. A second host plant with clusters of pale blue berries is also shown, adding botanical variety. Adult moths in warm brown and buff tones are arranged around the plants, while the chrysalis stage appears nearby. The contrast between the delicate leaf forms and the robust caterpillar bodies gives the plate strong visual interest.
Together, these two engravings form a coherent and attractive set focused on English woodland and hedgerow environments. Their shared period hand coloring, consistent composition, and aristocratic dedication inscriptions reflect both the scientific ambitions and social context of early eighteenth-century natural history publishing. The set is well suited for collectors of early entomology, botanical illustration, or elegant antique works on paper.
Condition report:
Light overall toning consistent with early 18th-century paper. Minor age-related surface marks and faint spotting. Hand coloring remains clear and well preserved.
Framing tips:
Frame as a matched pair using simple dark wood or black frames with off-white or light linen mats to emphasize the fine engraving and natural color palette.
