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Framed and on the wall
Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the print could look; the description says what is included.
Antique English Moths and Caterpillars on Hedgerow Plants, Albin 1720
£355 ($470, €420)
Period original, not a reproduction.
Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.
- Date
- 1720
- Size
- 11.1 × 8.7 in (28.3 × 22.1 cm)
- Condition
- Good. Light overall toning consistent with early 18th-century paper. Minor scattered spotting and small surface marks. Hand coloring remains clear and well preserved.
- Period
- 18th century
- Section
- Insects and butterflies
- Reference
- f_48108442
- Colour
- Hand coloured
What the condition grades mean
- Excellent
- Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
- Very good
- Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
- Good
- Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
- Fair
- Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Title: Antique English Moths and Caterpillars on Hedgerow Plants, Albin 1720
Description:
This set of two original hand-colored copper engravings was published in London in 1720 as part of Eleazar Albin’s seminal work A Natural History of English Insects. The plates exemplify Albin’s method of combining ALIGNMENT: moths, caterpillars, pupae, eggs, and host plants into a single, carefully structured composition intended to document the full insect life cycle.
The first plate in this set is dedicated by Albin “To the Lady Winter.” It depicts caterpillars feeding on serrated hedgerow leaves, arranged on branching stems that suggest common English shrubs. Surrounding the foliage are adult moths in various resting and flying positions, rendered in muted greys, browns, and soft greens. The inclusion of eggs and pupae adds a scientific dimension, while the balanced layout maintains a strong decorative quality.
The companion plate bears the dedication “To the Honorable Elizabeth Stavell, now Mrs. Bromley.” It is more botanically elaborate, dominated by a tall flowering umbel plant with finely divided leaves, possibly a wild carrot or related umbellifer. A caterpillar is shown feeding on the flower head, while adult moths appear around the composition. A longitudinal section of a plant stem is included at the right, illustrating internal structure and reinforcing the educational purpose of the plate.
Together, these two engravings form a cohesive pair focused on hedgerow and wayside plants rather than woodland or meadow habitats. Their refined hand coloring, aristocratic dedication inscriptions, and combination of botanical and entomological detail make them especially appealing to collectors interested in early British natural history illustration.
Condition report:
Light overall toning consistent with early 18th-century paper. Minor scattered spotting and small surface marks. Hand coloring remains clear and well preserved.
Framing tips:
Frame as a matched pair with understated dark wood frames and off-white or light linen mats to complement the fine line work and antique paper tone.
