Eleazar Albin | A Natural History of English Insects, London, 1720, subscriber's copy, red morocco

Eleazar Albin

A Natural History of English Insects illustrated with a hundred copper plates ... exactly coloured by the author. London: Printed for the author, 1720

FIRST EDITION, 4to (282 x 224mm.), dedication, list of subscribers, 100 engraved plates, ALL COLOURED BY HAND BY THE AUTHOR, contemporary crushed red morocco, roll-tool gilt border to sides, spine in seven compartments with raised bands gilt, browning, offsetting and spotting to text and plates, remains of tissue guards with some adhesion, joints split, spine slightly worn, slight rubbing and marks to covers and corners

A SUBSCRIBER'S COPY IN FULL RED MOROCCO, this being the copy of Robert Bristow (1688-1737), a Member of Parliament, who was also employed in the royal household as Clerk of the Green Cloth, in which position he was responsible for organising royal journeys and assisting in the administration of the royal household.

Plate 32 contains an engraved dedication from the author to Bristow. Lisney notes that "Each plate is dedicated to a subscriber or well-known personality, undoubtedly including those who acted as patrons or took an interest in Albin's drawings of insects".

PROVENANCE:

Robert Bristow MP (1688-1737) of Micheldever, Hampshire, subscriber, signature on title and engraved armorial bookplate.

Bristow was a director of the Bank of England (1713-16 and 1718-20), a director of the East India Company from 1716-17, a member of Parliament for Winchelsea from 1708 to 1737, and was employed in the royal household as Clerk of the Green Cloth from 1720 until his death. He married Sarah, the daughter of Sir John Ward MP. His son Robert (1712–1776) was also an MP.

LITERATURE:

Lisney 119; Nissen ZBI 58