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English Hawk & Tiger Moths, Hummingbird Hawk, Garden Tiger, Albin 1720
£325 ($430, €380)
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. Hand coloring remains clear and well defined. Minor scattered spotting and gentle age wear. Overall very good condition for prints of this age.
- Period
- 18th century
- Section
- Insects and butterflies
- Reference
- f_48100182
English Hawk & Tiger Moths, Hummingbird Hawk, Garden Tiger, Albin 1720
This original early 18th-century set of four hand-colored engraved plates comes from A Natural History of English Insects, written, illustrated, engraved, and exactly colored by Eleazar Albin and published in London in 1720. The plates are numbered IX–XII and depict a striking group of English moths shown together with their caterpillars, chrysalides, and host plants, documenting the full life cycle in a clear and visually balanced manner.
The insects illustrated include the Hummingbird Hawk Moth, Garden Tiger Moth, and other prominent nocturnal species commonly observed in England. The plates show adult moths in flight and at rest, alongside robust caterpillars feeding on their host plants, with chrysalides carefully placed to complete each developmental sequence. Albin’s precise labeling and orderly compositions reflect his ambition to make entomology accessible and accurate for a broad audience.
These engravings exemplify Albin’s distinctive style: uncluttered backgrounds, carefully spaced figures, and a refined but naturalistic color palette. The hand coloring remains restrained and harmonious, enhancing the scientific clarity without overpowering the engraved line. The combination of moths and botanical elements gives the plates both educational value and strong decorative appeal.
Offered together as four consecutive plates, this set preserves the original order of the book and forms a cohesive group, ideal for collectors of early natural history, British scientific illustration, or interior designers seeking authentic early 18th-century works with strong visual presence.
Condition
Light overall toning consistent with early 18th-century paper. Hand coloring remains clear and well defined. Minor scattered spotting and gentle age wear. Overall very good condition for prints of this age.
Framing tips
These plates work particularly well in dark wood or black frames with wide cream mats. Displayed as a quartet, they create a refined natural history wall with depth and visual rhythm.
Technique: Copper engraving with original hand coloring
Maker: Eleazar Albin, London, 1720
