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an open book with a drawing of a dragonfly and two other dragonflies
Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin

1587 - Zoology – Entomology
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Estimate €300 - €400
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Description
Zoology – Entomology Buchecker, Heinrich Systema entomologiae sistens insectorum classes, genera, species. Part I: Odonata (Fabric.) europ. With 43 photolithographic plates, 38 of which are coloured. Munich, published by the author, 1876. Half leather with gilt edging. Junck, Rara historico-naturalia et mathematica, No. 4876. - Horn/Schenkling 6195. Hagen I, 22. - First edition. - A rare first publication of an extraordinarily ambitious, yet unfinished, entomological illustrated work. Heinrich Buchecker (1829–1894), a museum curator from Strasbourg, devoted the only part of his large-scale *Systema entomologiae* to be published in the normal course to European dragonflies, which he treated under the name ‘Odonata (Fabric.) europ.” as was customary at the time. Buchecker’s concept was extraordinary: the plan was for a comprehensive system of insect classes, genera and species, featuring several thousand plates produced on the basis of his own observations of nature. Contemporary catalogues even announced a complete work planned to run to 45 volumes; in fact, the dragonfly section remained the definitive and only fully realised part of this project. – A fine copy. Very rare. Zoology. – Entomology. – With 43 photolithographic plates, 38 of which are coloured. – First edition. – Rare first publication of an exceptionally ambitious yet unfinished entomological illustrated work. Heinrich Buchecker (1829–1894), a museum curator from Strasbourg, devoted the only regularly published part of his large-scale *Systema entomologiae* to European dragonflies, which he classified under the then customary designation ‘Odonata (Fabric.) europ.’ Buchecker’s vision was extraordinary: he planned a comprehensive system of insect classes, genera and species, illustrated with several thousand plates based on his own observations of nature. Contemporary bibliographies even announced a complete work projected to comprise 45 volumes; in fact, the section on dragonflies remained the principal and only fully elaborated part of the undertaking. - A good copy. Very rare.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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