£600
Illustrations of British Entomology or, A Synopsis of Indigenous
Insects: containing their generic and specific distinctions; with an
account of their metamorphoses, times of appearance, localities, food,
and economy, as far as practicable. Embellished with coloured figures
of the rarer and more interesting species by James Francis Stephens
F.L.S. Printed for the author; published by Baldwin and Cradock; sold
by J. Churchill, Saville-House, Leicester Square, and by all
booksellers. 1828-1835 (Supplement dated 1846)
12 volumes including supplement, complete with 95 hand-coloured
plates as called for (though occasionally eccentrically numbered and
one or two misplaced, but all the plates are present)
A note from West to the pastedown states that 'The Supplement dated
1846 is the original. The one dated 1867 is a reprint having the plates
badly coloured.' The Supplement volume here, as West states, is the
1846 first.
Large octavo (250mm x 160mm). Half-leather, marbled paper-covered
boards. Rubbed, but still in good order. The spines faded to a uniform
dull brown. Titles in gilt-ruled compartments are still bright enough.
Occasional wear to the spine leather, some small abrasions, fraying at
heads. The leather of volume six is peeling from the spine but without
loss and is still attached. A very decent set of this important
publication which was in competition with Curtis' 'British Entomology'
published around the same time.
The publication is notable for the first appearance in print of the name
of Charles Darwin. Darwin was at Cambridge in 1828, where he was
introduced to entomology by his second cousin, William Darwin Fox.
Darwin collected several species of beetles and these are recorded in
Stephen's work. There are about 30 mentions of Darwin's name across
Stephens' work and he took great pride in seeing his name in print
'No poet ever felt more delighted at seeing his first poem published
than I did at seeing, in Stephens’ Illustrations of British Insects, the
magic words, “captured by C. Darwin, Esq.”’(Life and letters, 1887,
pp.50-51).
(12)
The following lots of books represent the library of George West.
West's biographical details are hard to pin down, his date of birth
unknown, (probably around the 1880's) and his death sometime after
1945. He is known to have worked as an assistant and then lecturer in
Botany at the University of Dundee from 1906. At that time the
university was a constituent college of St Andrews University. West
seems to have remained there until around 1926. In his publication
'Practical Principles of Plain Photo Micrography' (1916) he describes
himself as a lecturer in Botany. Most of the books in the sale bear the
handstamp, 'George West' to the front pastedowns. Many volumes bear
extracts from booksellers' catalogues with prices of the titles,
suggesting that West liked to keep up with the current values of his
library.
The books represent a working library and many are also
annotated in pencil in his hand, cross-referencing other works and
adding his comments. To the front of the first volume of Walker's
Diptera (see lot no.) he has inserted his handwritten poem, 'To the
Future Owners of this book'.
Geordie has now turned up his toes
And gone aloft to seek repose
From various varmints nips and stings,
Especially those base mankind brings...
.....
...He trusts the child who gets this book
Will on the various notes just look
And feel that every pencil stroke
Helps on the game dear Walker wrote...
Although a botanist by profession, his main interest, judging by
his library appears to have been entomology and amongst the books
are some rare titles in that field many dating from the nineteenth
century, a golden age for the natural sciences. Many of the giants in
the field of Entomology are represented in the books and there are
good sets of Curtis, Donovan and Stephens with many exquisite, hand-
coloured illustrations. Geology was another of his interests, as well as
microscopy.
What little is known of George West is largely gleaned from a
publication from Hereford Museum published in 2007. West had
donated a large collection of mineralogical specimens to the Museum
in 1945. His connection with Hereford, however, appears to be
tenuous and the man remains something of an enigma.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:
24% inc VAT*
Online and Autobids:
24% inc VAT*
