No more waiting in the wings

LEPIDOPTERISTS and lovers of Nature can now enjoy access to William a catalogue of 1,600 finely detailed paintings of some 760 butterfly and moth species created between 1780 and 1800, which, despite its intricacy and scientific importance, was never published. The sole manuscript has been preserved at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and is now reproduced for the first time. As well as 1,600 illustrations, the beautifully produced includes expert essays, modern maps and contextual commentary from entomologist, taxonomist and author Richard I. Vane-Wright (£65, Thames & Hudson).