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. Vols XI-XVI

London : Printed for the Author and for F C and J Rivington, 1806 A fair set of the final 6 volumes of Edward Donovan's beautiful work, with 216 hand coloured plates. Donovan issued the first 10 volumes in parts between 1792 and 1801. He viewed the work as finished, issuing a new title, contents pages and advert. He decided to restart the work issuing Vol XI 5 years later and completing Vol XVI in 1813. This set is in largely contemporary full leather bindings with raised bands, gilt decorative compartments, title and volume labels to spine. The boards have a delicate scroll-type decoration around the edges. All the volumes have wear to corners and edges and have varying degrees of wear to spine joints and ends. Board surfaces have some scuffing. Marbled endpapers. All volumes are complete, with 36 plates per volume. The work was issued in parts over time, so the paper quality varies with some being brown-toned or spotty. Vol XI: front hinge rebacked and spine relaid. 1806; with title; advert pp v-viii; text 100 pp with 36 plates; 2 index sections and errata. Damage to side edge of p 63 with repair; plate 385 and text pp 67-70 with some spotting. Vol XII: rear hinge rebacked with spine relaid - wear to front hinge with a couple of small splits. 1807; with title; text 102pp with 36 plates; 2 index sections. Paper brown-toned in some sections, particularly pp 41-8. Tissue guards very spotty and browned - lacking to 3 plates. Vol XIII: spine joints worn with some splitting at the top. 1808; with title; text 74 pp with 36 plates; 2 index sectons and errata. One plate has a torn tissue guard and another lacks a guard. Vol XIV: considerable wear to spine joints with some splitting and some loss to the bottom spine end. 1810; half title; title; text 90 pp with 36 plates; 2 index sections. 3 plates have spotting and only 22 plates have tissue guards. Where present the guards are very browned and spotty. There is offsetting from plates to text. Vol XV: rebacked. The boards are not as scuffed suggesting that they were replaced at some point. Endpapers are marbled but do not quite match Vols XI-XIV. 1811; half title; title; text 83 pp with 36 plates; 2 index sections. Light stain to the top edge of pp 8-17. Contents very bright and clean. Vol XVI: some splitting to spine joints. Boards and endpapers are newer as per Vol XV. Spine scuffed with wear and loss to raised bands. Damage to the bottom corner of the front board and some scuffing to the fep at the bottom edge. 1813; half title; title; text 91 pp with 36 plates; 2 index sections; alphabetical table of contents for the 6 volumes. Plates lack tissue guards. Contents very clean. Please enquire if you would like to see additional images to further assess condition.