Insectorum Sive Minimorum Animalium: Olim ab Edoardo Wottono, Conrado Gesnero, Thomaque Pennio inchoatum: Tandem Tho. Moufeti Londinatis opera sumptibusq; maximis concinnatum auctum, perfectum: Et ad vivum expressis Iconibus supra quingentis illustratum.

Londini: Ex officina typographica Thom. Cotes, 1634 A fair copy of the first printing of Insectorum Theatrum, classed as 'fair' because the title page and final plate page are in facsimile. The title page is that of the 3rd issue with a single printer named, but the book itself is 1st issue with page numbering at p 48 corrected in manuscript. This work was the first book on entomology to be published in Britain, and, although credited largely to Thomas Moffet (1553-1604), began as part of Conrad Gesner's researches in the mid 1500's. Thomas Penny and Caspar Wolf continued the work after Gesner's death, and Moffet, who was a neighbour and friend of Penny's, rescued the manuscript after Penny's death. It was finally published after Moffet's death by Theodore Mayerne (cf Lisney - Bibliography of British Lepidoptera). This copy has contemporary boards, rebacked with a newer spine and title label. The binding is in very good clean condition: there is wear to the boards but the corners have been repaired. Newer endpapers have been provided and there is a bookplate of Paul Sokoloff, and a smaller plate of Basil Harley to the front pastedown. The facsmile title page is 3rd issue and has some staining. Contents: title page; dedication 10pp; index 1p; Preface 4pp; authorities 3pp finis; full page plate of beehive; text pp 1-175; blank; second book preface 1p; table 1p; text pp 179-326 Finis; 2 leaves of figures - 2nd leaf in facsimile. With decorative headpieces, tailpieces, initial capitals and engravings throughout. There are several pagination errors but the text is continuous: p 48 corrected by hand; 128-130; 149-134-151; 157-166-159; 169-174-171; 285-296. The contents have general brown toning and there is some old annotation. The paper is particularly fragile at the edges of early leaves, where there is some light staining, and there is a little paper repair to the preface, and to p 41 and 46. A scarce and important work.