London, Longmans, Green, and Co., [1873-1874]. Folio (29.7 x 22.3 cm). 16 pp.; 18 lithographed plates of which 12 in fine, original hand-colouring. Original uniform printed wrappers.

A very important and rarely-seen contribution to the butterflies of Africa, and in particular from Madagascar, Cameroon, and Nigeria. Complete copies, such as this one, are very rare. Wilhelm Junk, who had been searching this work for more than twenty years, stated "This very beautiful work is highly important for the knowledge of the East African Fauna as it contains 55 new species. ... The book may be considered as the rarest of all modern works on Butterflies". Written and illustrated by the British entomologist Christopher Ward (1836-1900). The third issue remained incomple, the plates never coloured, and without accompanying text. According to the BM(NH) Catalogue, Part 3 was in fact unpublished. Descriptive text, however, was published in Ward's paper titled Descriptions of new species of African Diurnal Lepidoptera, and published in the Entomologist's Nonthly Magazine. A former owner, or perhaps the author himself, has added the correct names of the species in light pencil. Some light, mostly marginal spotting or toning to a few plates, otherwise excellent, clean. Cat. BM(NH) Supplement, p. 1393; Horn-Schenkling II(IV), p. 377; Junk, Rara, p. 136.