The Natural History of British Insects, by E[dward]Donovan. ...

Hammer

£2,000

The Natural History of British Insects, by E[dward]Donovan. 16
volumes in eight. Pub. for the author and F.C. and J. Rivington 1813
(but 1792. See note below). Separate title pages for each volume. Half
title is present in the first volume. Scattered, occasional foxing /
offsetting to a few text pages. The 576 plates (complete as issued)
remain in good, clean condition, with only occasional toning or spots
of foxing. The set is bound in polished calf with gilt ruling and
decorations in blind to the margins and with only a few, insignificant,
small blemishes to the boards. Spines in six compartments with
morocco labels and uniform, repeated, gilt insect motif. Although
showing evidence of rubbing, the spines present well. Rubbed to
exterior joints with very slight breaks between spine and boards to first
and last volumes but all bindings remain strong and secure. Marbled
endpapers. A small, unobtrusive label bearing the number of plates to
each volume has been added, I presume by the owner, George West to
the foot of the spines. A very handsome set of this important work by
the Irish-born Donovan.
Two old extracts from booksellers' catalogues listing similar sets have
been tipped in at the front of volume one. Also at the front of the first
volume is a helpful, handwritten note by West (signed with his initials)
stating that 'The title page of Vol. 1 is dated 1813. This volume,
however, was issued in 1792, and the title page was evidently printed
in 1813 when the 16 volumes had been finished. Different copies of the
complete work bear various dates on the title page.....The "New

Edition" on the title of Vol 1 probably refers to complete sets sold after
the issue of the work in parts as there was no second edition properly
so called.'
His note is borne out by the dating of the subsequent volumes. The
title page to volume two is dated 1793, to volume three, 1794 &c.
A prospectus for 'The Naturalist's Repository or Monthly Miscellany
of Exotic Natural History by E. Donovan' is tipped onto the front
endpaper. Each volume is indexed with a general index to all 16
volumes to the rear of the final volume.
Throughout, West has added neat pencil annotations to text pages
cross-referencing the text with other authorities. Occasionally, the
annotations stray into his own experiences such as on p. 22 of volume
5 where writes about his experiences in SW Scotland, the victim of the
stinging fly, known as 'clegs' which left him 'almost blind for 3...days'.
(8)

More Information

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.