Vanessa, Polychloros, Urticae, Red Currant, Elm, Stinging Nettle.

by Humphreys, H.N.

Comma Butterfly and Tortoiseshell Butterflies antique print c1849.
Butterflies: Vanessa C. Album (Comma Butterfly), Underside, Caterpillar, Chrysalis, Vanessa Polychloros (Great Tortoiseshell Butterfly), Underside, Caterpillar, Chrysalis, Vanessa Urticae.
Plants: Ribes rubrum (Red Currant), Ulmus campestris (Elm), Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle).

Original  hand-coloured lithograph arranged and illustrated by H.N. Humphreys Esq., with characters and descriptions by J. O. Westwood, Esq. F.L.S. (secretary of the Entomological Society), for British Butterflies and their Transformations published in London c1849.

Humphreys (1810-1879), was a British naturalist, entomologist, illustrator - and numismatist. His presentation of the butterflies with caterpillar and chrysalis, impressed curators at the British Museum, who adopted this method of illustrating the transformation lifecycle of insects. Humphreys' artwork reflects his study, in Italy, of exquisite medieval manuscripts.
He wrote: “The study of natural history is the learning of the characters with which the wonderful story of nature is written.. cannot conceive a more pleasing and natural introduction to its general study than entomology, of which I think the division of Lepidoptera.. the most easy and attractive section.  H. N. Humphreys, Esq.”

In fine condition except for very faint rubs at right edge of page. Page size is 285 x 210mm (11.25 x 8.25 inches).