Zoologica Specifica Rösel von Rosenhof, August Johann Collection of three original drawings with depictions of butterflies. Circa 1740, each pen and watercolour on vergé. Sheet dimensions from 10.7 x 9 cm to 13.5 x 10.5 cm. Mounted in spots on support. We would like to thank Prof Dr Manfred Niekisch for his expert assistance. Provenance: Auction sale, (number verso). - Collection Dr Werner Schultheiß. - Splendid collection of drawings for Rösel von Rosenhof's insect amusements published between 1746 and 1761. The naturalist, miniaturist and engraver August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof (1705-1759) is considered one of the pioneers of modern entomology. He collected larvae and caterpillars to study their development and behaviour and made detailed notes and drawings. The present sheets have the same structure and each shows a butterfly with an upper and lower wing, a caterpillar and a pupa. The following inscriptions and concordances to the engravings in the insect amusements are available: The large thorn caterpillar on the willow tree. (1st part, plate I)- The small thorny caterpillar on the Stagelberstauden. (Part 1, Plate V) - The yellow hairy caterpillar on the oak. (Part 4, plate XXVIII) - The drawings are mounted in an envelope made from a folded double leaf, on which information about Rösel and the insect amusements are noted in another manuscript from the early 19th century. The attribution of the Sütterlin manuscript on the drawings is made more difficult by the fact that Rösel's handwriting is not coherent, which becomes apparent when compared with autographs in his own hand (cf. UB Erlangen-Nürnberg, letter to the English Society in London dated 05.02.1744 and receipt for C.H. Kessel dated 22.08.1749) and inscriptions in drawing albums (cf. UB Erlangen-Nürnberg, Ausgemalte Foliotafeln für ein Werk über die Eidechsen und Salamander u. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Originalzeichnungen von Fröschen). - Cover with cut-out and hs. Annotations of the 20th century in pencil. The drawings minimally stained in the margins. Motifs and colours very well preserved. Of extreme rarity. Entomology. - We would like to thank Prof Dr Manfred Niekisch for his expert assistance. Entomology - Collection of three original drawings depicting butterflies. Provenance: Auction Trade (with pencil number verso). - Collection Dr Werner Schultheiß. - Each ink and watercolour on vergé. Mounted in spots on backing. - Splendid collection of drawings for Rösel von Rosenhof's "Insecten-Belustigungen" published between 1746 and 1761. The naturalist, miniaturist and engraver August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof (1705-1759) is considered one of the pioneers of modern entomology. He collected larvae and caterpillars to study their development and behaviour and made detailed notes and drawings. The present sheets have the same structure and each shows a butterfly with an upperside and underside of a wing, a caterpillar and a pupa. The following inscriptions and concordances to the engravings in the insect amusements are present: see above. - The drawings are mounted on a folded double leaf, on which information about Rösel and the insect amusements are noted in another early 19th century manuscript. The attribution of the Sütterlin manuscript on the drawings is made more difficult by the fact that Rösel's handwriting is not coherent when compared with autographs and inscriptions in drawing albums. - Backing with cut-out and handwritten annotations from the 20th century in pencil. The drawings minimally stained in the margins. Motifs and colours in very good condition. Of extreme rarity. 5000