HERBST, JOHANN FRIEDRICH WILHELM (+) CARL GUSTAV JABLONSKY.

Natursystem aller bekannten in- und ausländischen Insecten. Nach dem System des Ritters Carl von Linné bearbeitet. Schmetterling. 11 vols.

Berlin, J. Pauli , 1785-1806.

8vo. 11 volumes uniformly bound in 7 contemporary half calf bindings with gilt lettering and ornamentation to spines. Extremities with wear and spines miscoloured with stains. Front hindge of vol. 3/4 split. Water stain to first leaves of 1 and 3/4, otherwise internally fine. (22), CXXVI, (2), 216; XXXII, 295; XII, 232, (4), VIII, 208; VIII, 231, (2) 162; (6), 178, (8), 304; (6), 205, (2), 334, VIII; XIV, 392 pp. + 1 hand coloured frontispiece and 11 hand coloured title-vignettes.
Plates loosely inserted in recent clamshell box. Containing the follwoing plates: Nos. 230-239, 254-257, 259-261, 265, 272-76, 283, 277, 288, 297, 299, 213-324, 332-352, 354-366, 368-372 (A total of 84 plates out of 327). With occassional brownspotting. 


First edition of Herbst and Jablonsky comprehensive and meticulously illustrated work revolutionized the understanding of insects, their taxonomy, and their natural history. Herbst's meticulous engravings were a pioneering achievement in scientific illustration. The detailed depictions of insect morphology, including wings, legs, antennae, and other distinguishing features, set a new standard for scientific illustration at the time.
Herbst's system followed the Linnaean classification method, with each insect species assigned a unique name and categorized into orders, families, genera, and species.

Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst, born in 1743, was a German naturalist and entomologist who dedicated his life to the study of insects. He recognized the need for a systematic classification of insects to provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse and complex insect world. Inspired by the Enlightenment's emphasis on empirical observation and classification, Herbst embarked on a monumental task of creating a comprehensive catalog of all known insect species, both domestic and foreign.

The Structure and Content of "Natursystem aller bekannten in- und ausländischen Insecten": Herbst's magnum opus, "Natursystem aller bekannten in- und ausländischen Insecten," was published in multiple volumes between 1797 and 1804. The book consists of beautifully detailed engravings accompanied by precise descriptions of insect species, organized according to a hierarchical taxonomic system. Herbst's system followed the Linnaean classification method, with each insect species assigned a unique name and categorized into orders, families, genera, and species.

Nissen 2048.
Horn & Schenkling 10130

Order-nr.: 60438

DKK 16.000,00