Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde. Abteilung I. Die Groß-Schmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes. Band I-IV. [AND] Supplement I-IV [Complete palaearctic part].

Stuttgart, A. Kernen, 1906-1913, 1929-1954. Four volumes and four supplements in 13 (text and atlases). Large 4to (31.4 x 24.0 cm). Text volumes with title pages to the volumes and to the parts; 3699 pp. (I: 379, [vi]; II: vii, 479; III: iii, 511; IV: v, 479. Supplements: I: vii, 399; II: iii, 315; III: vi, 322, [iv] (adverts); IV: viii, 766]. Atlases with plate indexes, and 406 chromolithographed plates [I: 89; II: 56; III: 75; IV: 25. Supplements: I: 16; II: 16; III: 26; IV: 53], in 14-colour printing, occasionally heightened with silver. Photo of Adalbert Seitz mounted on first blank verso of the first supplement. Publisher's near-uniform quarter pebbled morocco or linen over linen boards (red in Volumes I-II, green in all others). Spines with four slightly raised, gilt-bordered bands, gilt lepidopteral vignettes and floral head- and tailpieces; front boards with gilt ornamental title. Greenish morocco labels with gilt title. Marbled edges (plain in supplements). = This attractively bound set, with Jugendstil vignettes on the front boards, comprises the complete original section of the Palaearctic butterflies and larger moths; i.e., those of Europe, northern Africa, and all but tropical Asia. Its fine plates were made using the process of 10- to 14-colour lithography, and its excellent quality has remained unsurpassed. The editor, Friedrich Joseph Adalbert Seitz (1860-1938), planned to finish the whole work in 1912. This proved to be quite unrealistic, as publication stopped in 1954 and several volumes remained unfinished. This part, however, was completed. This first set (started in 1906), consists of the following parts: Band [Volume] 1. Die Palaearktischen Tagfalter; Band 2. Die Palaearktischen Spinner & Schwärmer; Band 3. Die eulenartigen Nachtfalter; and Band 4. Die Palaearktischen spannerartigen Nachtfalter. In total there are no fewer than 12,274 individual illustrations. This is all that Seitz intended to publish, but due to new discoveries and developments he later decided to add a supplement to each volume. These much later (1929-1954) supplements, completed by several other entomologists, are included. The spelling Groß-Schmetterlinge occurs only in Volume I; in all the following volumes it was changed into Gross-Schmetterlinge. To the plate volume of the supplement to the fourth part, the binder added many blanks in the rear, to match the width of the corresponding text volume. The supplement Parts I-III have the text and plates combined. The portrait of Seitz may be an addition by a former owner. Light wear to a few spine ends and corners; the spines of the older volumes a bit sunned; spine labels to Volume IV a bit cracked, otherwise an excellent set. Cat. BM(NH), p. 1895; Nissen ZBI, 3799N. NOTE: we have more parts of the Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde, (parts dealing with Africa, Oceania, and South and Central America). Please inquire.