Background:

These vibrant prints are from the Foreign Butterflies volume of The Naturalist's Library.  Sir William Jardine, who edited the series, commissioned experts throughout Europe to author each of the 40 volumes organized by four major topics - mammals, birds, insects and fish.  The volumes included over 1300 hand-colored plates produced from engravings by William Lizars, the eminent Scottish engraver and painter of topographical views.