DONOVAN, Edward. The Natural History of British Insects. London: for the Author and for F. C. Riving

DONOVAN, Edward. The Natural History of British Insects. London: for the Author and for F. C. Rivington, 1792-1813. 16 vols. in 8, first edition, 8vo (236 X 136mm.) 8 half-titles present, 576 hand-coloured engraved plates, including 9 uncoloured plates, extra-illustrated with 60 further engraved plates hand-coloured and signed by Anne Eliza Rudge and a few signed by A.E. Pole [Charles Pole], all of them bound-in according to Stephens’ classification [James Francis Stephens], the corresponding text leaves also have insect name and plate number in manuscript, 28pp. of handwritten indices to rear of vol. 8 bound-in before printed indices, also in the same hand. (Plates not bound in Donovan’s numerical order, toning, occasional spotting and browning, lacking errata leaves.) Near contemporary brown full morocco, gilt ruled, gilt lettering to spines (extremities rubbed, upper joint of volume 8 splitting). Note: the hand-written index has two columns and it cross-references the classification of Donovan’s taxonomy with Stephens’. Anne Eliza Rudge was the daughter of Anne Rudge, wife of the botanist Edward Rudge, and herself a botanical illustrator. Anne Eliza Rudge married Charles Pole in 1824 and a few of the plates are signed A.E. Pole. All but two of Anne Eliza Rudge’s plates are copies of parts of the original figures but made necessary by arranging according to Stephen’s classifications. The two new figures are both of larvae and they are plate 200 and 439 (8).