Genève, Villa les Iris, 1909-1913, 1917-1920. Four volumes in four. 8vo (24.7 x 16.3 cm). Four half-titles, four title pages; 899 pp. [I: 220; II: 243; III: 269; IV: 167]; 151 numbered chromolithographed plates [1-38; 39-81; 1-37; 38-70] and one uncoloured lithograph, titled Pl. A. Near uniform contemporary pebbled half morocco over gilt-bordered linen boards. Spines with five raised bands and gilt title. Top edges gilt. Marbled endpapers. Each volume with an original printed livraison wrapper bound in.

Attractive and rare complete set of the original printing. It includes the plain "A" plate which seems to be omitted in the later reprint. Written and illustrated by the French entomologist Jules Culot (1861-1933), a founder of the Société lépidoptérologique de Genève. He was a friend of the lepidopterologist and printer/publisher Charles Oberthür (1845-1924), whose firm printed this work. The fine, detailed illustrations are by the author, who was a glass engraver by profession. Provenance: with a lepidopterological-microscopical bookplate of the French entomologist Paul Thiaucourt (1928-2022) mounted on the front pastedown of the first volume. The bindings are uniform, except that the first two early volumes have reddish spines and the later two more brownish spines. Some shelf-wear, in particular to the spine tops and raised bands; otherwise very good, clean. A very good set. Cat. BM(NH) p. 242. Not in Nissen ZBI.