Edward Donovan - Knowledge (XXG)

151: 335:, always made his financial position precarious. He had begun selling parts of his collections in 1788 and was forced to close his museum in 1817. The main auction of his collection in 1818 took eight days. He continued to publish, but his financial position worsened. His collection was an important resource for his publications and its dispersal caused problems. In 1833 he made an unsuccessful published plea for funds from his supporters to bring a 221: 33: 264:(from his own copper plates, Donovan personally undertook all steps of the illustration process for his books, the drawing, the etching and engraving and the hand colouring, working with a team of several employees) which are not visible. At other times the fineness of his engraving and etching is apparent giving his illustrations the appearance of being watercolours. 197:

840 individual species illustrated within 636 hand coloured large octavo copper plate engravings. Normal copies comprise 576 plates. Earlier volumes were written in English but the later ones were partly in Latin as Donovan became more knowledgeable and perhaps to appeal to a more specialist, but international, readership. It was referenced by several later authors.

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Hitherto Discovered in Those Countries, and Which for the Most Part Have Not Appeared in the Works of Any Preceding Author. The Figures Are Correctly Delineated from Specimens of the Insects; and With the Descriptions Are Arranged According to the Linnean System, With Reference to the Writings of Fabricius and Other Entomologists

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and other private collections as well as his own museum. It is the first publication dealing exclusively with the insects of Australia. In the preface Donovan writes "There is perhaps, no extent of country in the world, that can boast a more copious or diversified assemblage of interesting objects in

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published from 1792 to 1813. Each contained high quality plates illustrating the life-cycles of the insects, which he often drew from life. It was initially intended to consist of 10 volumes, but he later added a further six. A surviving, heavily annotated complete first edition, proof set comprises

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An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of India, and the Islands in the Indian Seas: Comprising Upwards to Two Hundred and Fifty Figures and Descriptions of the Most Singular and Beautiful Species, Selected Chiefly from Those Recently Discovered, and Which Have Not Appeared in the Works of

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The Natural History of British Fishes: Including Scientific and General Descriptions of the Most Interesting Species, and an Extensive Selection of Accurately Finished Coloured Plates, Taken Entirely from Original Drawings, Purposely Made from the Specimens in a Recent State, and for the Most Part

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The Natural History of British Insects: Explaining Them in Their Several States, With the Periods of Their Transformations, Their Food, Oeconomy, &c. Together With the History of Such Minute Insects As Require Investigation by the Microscope, the Whole Illustrated by Coloured Figures, Designed

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An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of New Holland, New Zealand, New Guinea, Otaheite, and Other Islands in the Indian, Southern and Pacific Oceans: Including the Figures and Descriptions of One Hundred and Fifty-three Species of the More Splendid, Beautiful, and Interesting Insects,

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specimens and other exotica alongside his British collections. Entry cost 1 shilling. It had public education about natural history as an objective, as well as value as source material for his publications. However, the museum was not as financially successful as he hoped.

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every department of natural history than New Holland and its contiguous island". Most of the plates depict butterflies together with exotic plants. Donovan often used thick paints, burnished highlights, albumen overglazes and metallic paints. These covered the

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Instructions for Collecting and Preserving Various Subjects of Natural History: As Quadrupeds, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes, Shells, Corals, Plants, &c.: Together With a Treatise On the Management of Insects in Their Several States; Selected from the Best

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Any Preceding Author. The Figures Are Accurately Drawn, Engraved, and Coloured, from Specimens of the Insects; the Descriptions Are Arranged According to the System of Linnaeus; With References to the Writings of Fabricius, and Other Systematic Authors

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and undertook commissions for private albums of his botanical artwork. His works typically appealed both to serious naturalists, through the careful descriptions and a more general readership because of the attractive illustrations.

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An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of China: Comprising Figures and Descriptions of Upwards of One Hundred New, Singular, and Beautiful Species; Together with some that are of Importance in Medicine, Domestic Economy,

67:, Ireland, and was originally surnamed O'Donovan. He is presumed to have had some independent wealth. His health declined in later years and he died penniless at his home in John Street in 1837 leaving a large family destitute. 385:

The Natural History of British Shells: Including Figures and Descriptions of All the Species Hitherto Discovered in Great Britain, Systematically Arranged in the Linnean Manner, With Scientific and General Observations On

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Donovan's expensive purchases, his dealings with (according to him) his unscrupulous book seller Rivingtons of St Paul's Churchyard (after many previous years on good terms), and the economic decline in England after the

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He was a well-connected and respected member of the gentleman naturalist community. Evidence includes that his successful nomination for election as a Fellow of the Linnean Society in 1799 was supported by six members

310:. It is the first illustrated publication dealing with the entomology of India. The exact publication date, stated on the title page as being 1800, is also unclear as most plates are later; for example, the plate for 379:

The Naturalist's Repository, or Miscellany of Exotic Natural History: Exhibiting Rare and Beautiful Specimens of Foreign Birds, Insects, Shells, Quadrupeds, Fish and Marine Productions

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and illustrated many species based on the collections of other naturalists. His many books were successful in his time. He died penniless in 1837 leaving a large family destitute.

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which gave him access to the best collections and libraries in London. It was quite common for private collectors to open small public museums, and in 1807 he founded the

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An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of New Holland, New Zealand, New Guinea, Otaheite, and Other Islands in the Indian, Southern and Pacific Oceans

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Butterfly Collectors and Painters: Four Centuries of Colour Plates from the Library Collections of the Natural History Museum, London

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The Natural History of British Birds: Or, a Selection of the Most Rare, Beautiful, and Interesting Birds Which Inhabit this Country

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Almost nothing is known about Donovan's family background, education or early life, although he is known to have been born in

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Gibson, Suzannah (2007). "Patron's Review: The careering naturalists: creating career paths in natural history, 1790–1830".

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Egerton, Frank N. (2013). "History of Ecological Sciences, Part 45: Ecological Aspects of Entomology During the 1800s".

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Insects of New Holland, New Zealand, New Guinea, Otaheite, and Other Islands in the Indian, Southern and Pacific Oceans

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He co-published his books with a book-seller instead of the more usual arrangement of working with a publisher.

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Descriptive Excursions Through South Wales and Monmouthshire in the Year 1804, and the Four Preceding Summers

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specimens purchased mainly at auctions of specimens from voyages of exploration. He was a fellow of the

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Donovan described and figured specimens in his own cabinet, that were originally collected by the late

91:. According to the catalogues and contemporary reviews, this exhibited several hundred cases of world 780: 775: 127:

Donovan was, at first, the very successful author of a number of natural history titles, including

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is dated 1 February 1804. Many of the butterflies figured are from the Americas. In the works of

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An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of India, and the Islands in the Indian Seas

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Apart from occasional excursions in England and Wales, Donovan never left London. His

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was based "Indiis" confusingly refers to the West Indies or northern South America.

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Crane Fly - Chironomus plumosus from Edward Donovan's British Insects published 1792

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Instructions for Collecting and Preserving Various Subjects of Natural History

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Anglo-Irish writer, natural history illustrator, and amateur zoologist

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The Naturalist's Repository, or Miscellany of Exotic Natural History

531:(online ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. ref:odnb/7824. 294:, a Mr. Yeats, and a Mr. Bailey. He also studied the collections of 362:. 1792–1813. 16 volumes with a total of 576 plates (568 coloured). 290:, a Governor Holford (many years resident in India), a Mr. Ellis, 149: 116: 31: 104: 92: 598:

The Aurelian Legacy: British Butterflies and their Collectors

368:. London. 1794–1819. 10 volumes with a total of 244 plates. 577:

Bird Etchings: The Illustrators and Their Books, 1655-1855

381:. London. 1822–1827. 5 volumes with a total of 180 plates. 736: