CURTIS (John, 1791-1862, Entomologist and Illustrator)

Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent saying that he was “exceedingly sorry that the specimens you took so much pains to bring me of the Impatiens died in less than an hour after you left them, so that I had no chance of drawing them. Having expressed my regret to my friend Chas Harris he very kindly drove me over to Guidford where we found some charming specimens of the Impatiens & I am happy to say that by taking them immediately to the Seahorse having taken the precaution to put my paintbox etc in my pocket, I succeeded in making a very satisfactory drawing of that beautiful Plant, which if it be not a native is most certainly naturalised at Shalford. In our way we found the Istis Tinctoria & as it is an uncommon plant I have enclosed a recent specimen thinking you might like to have it. As I shall not be able to leave town again this year I hope I may have the pleasure of seeing you here, when you have leisure & inclination on a Wednesday to look over my Collections. I left Lord Malmesbury & all my Farnboro’ friends well. The Parsonage House there is very pretty & pleasantly situated & I very much enjoyed my rambles on the wild moors & extensive heather that abound in that neighbourhood...”, 3 sides 8vo., “11 R.S.H.R.”, 17th September

Curtis worked from 1st January 1824 to 1st December 1839 on his work British Entomology which has detailed descriptions of the insects of Great Britain and Ireland with 770 hand-coloured plates and over 2,000 species described. It was issued in 192 monthly parts over 16 years to an initial list of 167 subscribers, yet less than 35 complete copies of the first edition were finally produced. It is widely acknowledged to be the finest work on British entomology ever produced. The exceptionally fine images include the most accurate botanical illustrations.
Isatis tinctoria, also called woad, is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae (the mustard family) with a documented history of use as a blue dye and medicinal plant.

Item Date:  1838

Stock No:  42783      £425

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