De natuurlyke historie der insecten; voorzien met naar 't leven getekende en gekoleurde plaaten. Volgens eigen ondervinding beschreeven [...].

5 parts (of 9) in 5 vol., 4to: [46]-280, [4]-281/568-[8], [12]-251-[1], [4]-265-[1], [12]-xxxi-[4]-220 pp.

Contemp. half calf with corners (bumped, somewhat rubbed), sp. paper on covers, gilt orn. flat spines (somewhat rubbed), red leather title labels. Good copy.

Rare Dutch edition of the famous coloured plate books on butterflies and other insects by the Nürnberg painter Rösel von Rosenhof (1705-1759), translated from the German "Der monatlich-herausgegebenen Insecten-Belustigung" (1st, Nüremberg, 1740-1761) and enlarged by C.F.C. Kleemann (1735-1789), son-in-law of the author, both in text and in plates. Entomologist, painter and art dealer Kleemann, and his wife, personally coloured all the plates for this edition. Our set contains 5 parts (of 9) in 5 vol. (without part 2b, 3b, 4b and the rare unfinished supplement ("Vervolg")). Illustrated with 3 engr. front. by Martin Tyroff after Johann Justin Preisler (part 1), by Aug. Joh. Rösel (part 2), by A.J. Rösel after Nicol. Gabler (part 3), an author's portrait, 197 (of 359) plates (on 256 (of 288 leaves)) of insects, all beautifully coloured by hand by Kleeman and his wife Katharina Barbara Rösel von Rosenhof.
Ref. Nissen (ZBI) 3467. - Landwehr, Dutch books with coloured plates, 161 (extensive description). - BnF. - STCN.