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English Moths & Caterpillars, Common Rustic, Drab & Tiger Moths, Albin 1720
$380 (£290, €340)
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_48100292
English Moths & Caterpillars, Common Rustic, Drab & Tiger Moths, Albin 1720
Description
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 XVII–XX and present a varied selection of English moths shown together with their caterpillars, chrysalides, eggs, and host plants, illustrating the full life cycle in a clear and methodical manner.
The insects depicted include several common British nocturnal moths, among them species comparable to the Common Rustic and other drab-colored moths, as well as vividly patterned Tiger Moths. The plates show adult moths with wings spread or at rest, paired with robust, often brightly marked caterpillars feeding on leaves. Eggs and pupae are carefully included, reinforcing the scientific purpose of the work.
Albin’s approach is both systematic and visually refined. Each element is isolated against an open background, allowing close study of form, pattern, and coloration. The hand coloring remains subtle yet confident, enhancing the engraved line while preserving a naturalistic appearance. Botanical details are rendered with equal care, grounding each insect in its natural environment.
Offered together as four consecutive plates, this set preserves the original order of the book and forms a cohesive group. It is well suited to collectors of early entomology, British natural history, or interior designers seeking authentic early 18th-century scientific illustrations with strong decorative appeal.
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 frame beautifully in dark wood or black frames with wide cream or soft off-white mats. Displayed as a quartet, they create a balanced and scholarly natural history presentation.
Technique: Copper engraving with original hand coloring
Maker: Eleazar Albin, London, 1720
