Esper Original Insect Prints E. versicolora Moth

Endromis versicolora Moth
ESB323 $95
8 by 9 ¼ inches

Eugenius Johann Christoph Esper was schooled from an early age to study botany by his father and later encouraged by his professor to change his studies from theology to natural history. After graduation, he worked at Erlanger University in charge of the Natural History department where he also amassed a fine collection of specimens, now in the zoological museum in Munich. 

He published many works, including the most comprehensive work on butterflies of the time, Die Schmetterlinge in Abbildungen, from 1777-1794. We are fortunate to have located a few fragments from this work, beautifully annotated in an old copperplate hand as shown, by an individual with extensive knowledge in the field. The complete life cycle of each butterfly is shown, creating both a work of art and a scientific record based on the Linnaen system. Each print is in excellent condition with original hand colored copper plate engravings on chain lined paper with little foxing.