Obscure books: Sometimes full of surprises !
Aug 17, 2019 22:38:27 GMT
nomad, jmg, and 2 more like this
Post by trehopr1 on Aug 17, 2019 22:38:27 GMT
A couple of years ago my insect dealer/friend decided to clear his bookshelves of his many acquired books received thru collection purchases. Of coarse, by then all the real quality books had been sold and then there was the leavings... Anyway, he said you can have it all as a gift; just fill some boxes and sort thru them later. So, in earnest I filled up 4 Xerox boxes and away I went.
Within a month or so I managed to finally get thru them all and was pleasantly surprised to find a few gems among the many obscure titles. This book happens to be one of those little known gems.
The book itself is hardcover and thin (about 1/4 inch thick) and 121 pages. The title is on the cover in a gold leaf color against a maroon background. There is also a tortricid moth image on the cover with an apple and larvae figured in gold leaf. No attractive slipcover and generally un-assuming until you open it.
Within, is a very thorough accounting of the fauna involved but, better yet is the surprising and well done artwork which is done by 2 different artists. One Japanese artist tackled all of the adult moth figures shown while another artist focused on all of the larvae drawings. The detail by both artists is simply incredible...
Now, will I actually ever really have use for such a book; probably not... because Microleps don't interest me. However, from the standpoint of it being a true quality book in its own right; I could never send it to the local library for their used book sale. So, perhaps some enthusiast out there who appreciates Microleps might sometime contact me and inquire about it. I will hold on to it until I can one day place it in the hands of someone who appreciates the little things that fly around the porch light...
Within a month or so I managed to finally get thru them all and was pleasantly surprised to find a few gems among the many obscure titles. This book happens to be one of those little known gems.
The book itself is hardcover and thin (about 1/4 inch thick) and 121 pages. The title is on the cover in a gold leaf color against a maroon background. There is also a tortricid moth image on the cover with an apple and larvae figured in gold leaf. No attractive slipcover and generally un-assuming until you open it.
Within, is a very thorough accounting of the fauna involved but, better yet is the surprising and well done artwork which is done by 2 different artists. One Japanese artist tackled all of the adult moth figures shown while another artist focused on all of the larvae drawings. The detail by both artists is simply incredible...
Now, will I actually ever really have use for such a book; probably not... because Microleps don't interest me. However, from the standpoint of it being a true quality book in its own right; I could never send it to the local library for their used book sale. So, perhaps some enthusiast out there who appreciates Microleps might sometime contact me and inquire about it. I will hold on to it until I can one day place it in the hands of someone who appreciates the little things that fly around the porch light...
