Edward Donovan

An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of China

Complete set

Born in Cork, Ireland, Donovan was an avid collector of natural history specimens purchased mainly at auctions of specimens from voyages of exploration. Apart from occasional excursions in England and Wales, Donovan never left London.

For An epitome of the natural history of the insects of China, Donovan obtained specimens and information from George Macartney, a British envoy to China. The book consists of 50 hand-colored prints made from engraved plates.

Heritage Prints has direct access to these original works and reproduces them perfectly using the latest in digital technology. The size, colours and distinctive style of these giclée prints create an eye-catching feature for any wall.

Own your own collection

Now Heritage Prints offers you the chance to own a complete set of Donovan’s An epitome of the natural history of the insects of China, with high-quality giclée prints that are identical to the originals in size, color, and tone.

A complete set includes:

1 title page
1 content page
50 prints after the hand-colored originals
1 handcrafted Solander Box embossed with gold lettering
A certificate of authenticity

Features and Details

Publication: An epitome of the natural history of the insects of China.

Author and Artist: Edward Donovan (1768-1837)

Published: London, 1798

A complete set includes:
1 title page
1 content page
50 prints
Certificate of authenticity

Casing: The complete set will be cased in two elegant handcrafted Solander Boxes covered in special linen embossed with golden lettering.

You may choose your own color of the boxes and your own lettering.

Size of the prints: 12 x 14,4 inches (30,5 x 36,5 cm).

Durability: to ensure the durability, the giclée’s are printed on acid-free white etching paper (270 g/m²) with archival ink.

Quality: these prints were photographed using the latest technology, with a color-checker color matched to the original illustration and then reproduced at the original plate size. Printed in the highest possible resolution, these prints are indistinguishable from the originals when glazed and framed.

Limited Edition: The edition will be limited to 50 sets, numbered 1/50 to 50/50, signed and stamped with a blind embossing.

Shipping and delivery: Read more about shipping and delivery in our FAQ .

Limited Edition

We know how special it is to own a piece from your favorite artist; a piece that will be a real talking point in your home.

That is why each edition is limited to just 50 prints. These are numbered from 1/50 to 50/50H and are signed and stamped with a blind embossing.

So when you choose prints from Heritage Prints, you know your artwork has been printed with great care and in limited numbers, making it a print only a select few will own.

Certification

When you invest in our prints or collections, you will receive a certificate of authenticity.

This provides a lasting record of your artwork and gives you valuable certification if you ever wish to sell or bestow your collection in the future.

Solander box

When investing in a complete set, our Solander box is the perfect place to store your collection.

The box is covered with library buckram cloth and is fitted with a card holder to the spine with attaché fasteners.

This elegant, high-quality box is designed especially for keeping your prints safe and in perfect condition – yet you can still easily look at them whenever you wish.

Donovan - Insects of China - View prints below

Heritage Prints has a master copy of many images. But we do not have every certified facsimile giclee print in stock.

If you cannot find a specific work on our website, please contact us directly and we will start the rigorous process of printing your individual facsimile.

Edward Donovan

An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of China