A Handbook to the Order Lepidoptera - Vol III by W F Kirby - 1897

LONDON: W H ALLEN AND CO., LIMITED,, 1897 Vol III, complete with 27 fine colour printed plates and numerous illustrations in the text. Part of Allen's Naturalists' Library, who were publishing an extensive set of natural history volumes (Also known as Lloyds Natural History). W F Kirby was asked to write the butterfly and moth volumes. He originally intended Butterflies to cover 2 volumes, but extended to part of a third. This volume therefore covers Hesperiidae and starts his work on Moths. Moths then take up a further 2 volumes. This copy is in the traditional Allen's binding with marbled boards and a buckram spine with gilt titles. With colour printed frontispiece and 26 further colour plates. The binding has wear to corners and board edges and the spine has a little dulling and pulling to top and bottom, but is tight and sound. Internally the original black endpapers are present and there is a small signature to the top of the half title page. The text and plates are generally very clean and in good order. The plates are tissue-guarded - these guards have some browning. There is very occasional light marking but this is a very good copy internally.