Beetles. Scarabaeus. Hercules Beetle Antique Engraving c1803

by Shaw, George

Superb Hercules Beetle antique print c1805.

Fine original hand-coloured steel engraving of Entomology for "Zoology, or Systematic Natural History" by George Shaw M.D.F.R.S. (1751-1813).  Published in London circa 1805, this is from the rare series of copperplate engravings published by George Kearsley for “Zoological Lectures” delivered at the Royal Institution in London by George Shaw. These exquisite hand-coloured images were engraved by the famous natural history illustrator Moses Griffiths and his assistants.

George Shaw co-founded the Linnaean Society in 1788 and became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1789. In 1791 he became assistant keeper of the Natural History Department of the British Museum and became Keeper in 1806.

The size of this antique print is 23 x 13 cm (9 x 5 inches).