Lot 176: LEWIN, John William (1770-1835). Prodromus Entomology: Natural History of Lepidopterous Insects of New South Wales. London: for the author, and published by Thomas Lewin, J. White, J. Johnson [and others], 1805.

4o (249 x 198mm). 18 hand-coloured engraved plates by and after Lewin. (Light spotting to title and plate 10.) Later 19th-century green half calf, spine gilt with morocco lettering-piece, red speckled edges. FIRST EDITION OF LEWIN'S FIRST BOOK ON AUSTRALIA. The beautiful copperplates, which are the more effective for being on facing pages, were the earliest to be engraved in the colony. Lewin had completed his task early in 1804, when the plates were then shipped back to England together with his manuscript, and printed and published in London by his brother, Thomas Lewin. The four states of the plates were available at four different prices ranging from œ2.5.6 to 15sh. 6d. Although this copy does not have interleaves, as stated in the publisher's advertisement, it otherwise appears to conform to the second state with the engravings, priced at œ1.10.6., on Imperial Paper 'well finished, with [coloured] grounds.' VERY RARE. Ferguson 411b; Nissen ZBI 2487; Wantrup p. 277.