Text and plates printed by Benjamin Fawcett. Cf. McLean, Ruari and Antonia. Originally published in 18 parts at 1s, 1 Jan. 1852 to 1853. See also McLean O 454. Cf. Benjamin Fawcett : engraver and colour printer, 1988.

The majority of plates are printed in black with the addition of hand-colouring. Some hand-coloured plates are printed in black and light brown or grey-blue, brown and black, and a few include areas printed in green. Plates [1-2] at end are printed in black without hand-colouring. All plates are unsigned.

Shades of colouring and some colours in the hand-colouring of some plates differ from those in the 1853 edition. Includes the addition of silver colouring in a few plates.

Includes "Aphorismata entomologica.": p. [1]-29 at end.

McLean, Ruari and Antonia. Benjamin Fawcett : engraver and colour printer, p. 83-84.

MASS copy 1: Bound in teal-green morocco-grain cloth blocked in blind with the upper cover and spine blocked in gold, in the same design and with the same illustration as McLean O 454. Lacking plates 50, 52 and 53. Titling of accompanying text and description of plates 50 and 53 on p. 119 and 125 are cut out. With presentation inscription dated 1870.