English Moths and Butterflies
1749
Book •
Moses Harris's illustrated work presents detailed hand-coloured copperplate engravings of British moths, butterflies, and associated plants, arranged in elegant compositions typical of Georgian natural history art.
Published by subscription in the mid-18th century, it was aimed at wealthy patrons and helped popularise lepidoptery among fashionable society.
Harris combined artistic skill with observational entomology, producing plates valued both for beauty and scientific interest.
The book exemplifies how aesthetic appreciation spurred early interest in butterflies before wider scientific collecting became common.
Its plates remain important historical and artistic records of 18th-century natural history illustration.
Published by subscription in the mid-18th century, it was aimed at wealthy patrons and helped popularise lepidoptery among fashionable society.
Harris combined artistic skill with observational entomology, producing plates valued both for beauty and scientific interest.
The book exemplifies how aesthetic appreciation spurred early interest in butterflies before wider scientific collecting became common.
Its plates remain important historical and artistic records of 18th-century natural history illustration.
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Mentioned by the narrator when describing a richly illustrated Georgian butterfly book created by an Aurelian member.
The first butterfly collectors
