Butterflies

Featuring the work of butterfly artists over four centuries, this book includes illustrations from volumes compiled by early collectors and entomologists such as John Curtis, Dru Drury and Samuel Scudder which are now held in the Entomology Library at the Natural History Museum, London. Many of the illustrations are unpublished outside their original volumes. The introduction provides an anecdotal history of the illustration of butterflies and of the endeavours of the early collectors. This is then followed by the colour plates, each one reproduced full-page. They have been selected for their historical and entomological importance and also to give a range of illustrative styles. On the page facing each plate the author informs the reader about the butterflies depicted and describes the artists, entomologists and collectors, and their journeys of exploration in search of new species. Pamela Gilbert is Entomological Librarian at the Natural History Museum, London.