The Genera Vermium

(Linnaeus.) BARBUT (James)

The Genera Vermium

exemplified by Various Specimens of the Animals contained in the Orders of the Intestina et Mollusca Linnaei. [Parts 1 and 2].

Description: FIRST EDITION, engraved frontispiece, engraved title of part II, 25 highly decorative plates (24 of which hand-coloured), text in French and English in parallel columns, title with faint off-setting and small ink smudge at margin, neat manuscript line in ink describing edition at foot of title, pp. [i, frontispiece], xx, 101, [i], [11 plates]; [ii], xxvii, [i], 76, [14 plates], 4to, contemporary sprinkled calf, spine with gilt typographical stars between gilt decorated rules, green morocco gilt-lettered label, boards with a few abrasions, hinges strengthened, very good

Publication Details: Printed for the Author by James Dixwell; publish'd… by J. Barbut, 1783 1788

Notes: James Barbut (c.1711-1791) was a naturalist and painter, and exhibited several paintings at the Royal Academy of Art between 1777 and 1786, in which accurate depictions of marine life predominate. Though relatively unknown now, his reputation in his own time was such that he was able to engage the pre-eminent engravers of the day - James Newton, Thomas Woodman and Henry Mutlow - for this edition, and include, amongst his long list of subscribers, Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society. Barbut's whole-hearted admiration for Linnaeus is clear from the outset, '…though certain persons...moreJames Barbut (c.1711-1791) was a naturalist and painter, and exhibited several paintings at the Royal Academy of Art between 1777 and 1786, in which accurate depictions of marine life predominate. Though relatively unknown now, his reputation in his own time was such that he was able to engage the pre-eminent engravers of the day - James Newton, Thomas Woodman and Henry Mutlow - for this edition, and include, amongst his long list of subscribers, Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society. Barbut's whole-hearted admiration for Linnaeus is clear from the outset, '…though certain persons have taken the liberty to criticize the works of this wonderful man, they are much inferior to him in brilliancy of wit and fidelity of judgement, as a glow worm is to the evening star' (page iii); and though he opens with an apology for his reliance on literary sources in the absence first-hand experience of certain specimens, he continues '…let us take a nearer view of them, and our admiration will increase as our ignorance wears away; and the mind shall become illumined.'Barbut himself is known to have applied the hand-colouring to, at least, some copies. (Damkaer (D.) 'The copepodologist's cabinet' American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, 2002) HIDE

Bibliography: (Nissen ZBI 221)

Enquire about this book

Price: £1,725

Subject: Sciences

Published Date: 1783 1788

Stock Number: 73794

(Your basket is currently empty)