['PORCELAIN' BINDING] BUTTERFLIES IN THEIR FLORAL HOMES, de [HUMPHREYS, Henry Noel]; JERRARD, Paul (publisher): - [1858].: with Butterfly Fables indited by a Dreamer in the Woods.

London: Paul Jerrard., [1858].. First edition. 28 x 19cm. Publisher's original deluxe pink enamel binding elaborately decorated in gilt, green and blue, with cream leather spine. Signed "Paul Jerrard's Patent Binding" in gilt to the foot of the upper board. All edges gilt. Pink watered silk endpapers with floral design in gilt. The contents comprising a hand-coloured title page and presentation page, followed by 8 (of 9) richly hand-coloured full-page lithographic plates, 13 (of 14) text pages printed in pink and gilt, and one page of publisher's advertisements printed in gilt. NOTE: The work is lacking one leaf, comprising one text page recto with one plate verso (plate no. 2). Two publisher's leaflets advertising the work loosely laid in. Disbound, with the text separated from the binding, now comprising single leaves. The binding with some chipping to the leather spine ends is otherwise in good order, the upper board remaining bold and bright. The contents with a little offsetting and the occasional spot of light foxing are otherwise in good order. A rare example of one of Paul Jerrard's spectacular enamelled bindings enclosing a beautifully illustrated work on butterflies, usually attributed to Henry Noel Humphreys, with sumptuous contemporary hand-colouring.

The enclosed publisher's leaflet indicates that the present binding is one of the superior 'Porcelain' bindings, originally 'delivered in boxes' at a cost of £2 2s., as opposed to the standard 'Tortoiseshell' or 'Stone' bindings, costing £1 11s. 6d.

The leaflet goes on to explain the work to be: "A series of pictures representing some of our most beautiful native Butterflies in their various stages, grouped among the plants and flowers on which they feed; each composition forming a complete picture, richly colored from choice specimens of the insects and flowers. The Plates accompanied by illustrative fables, suggested by the phases and incidents of insect life, and the especial beauty of Butterflies; to which is added a descriptive index, in which the details of each plate are explained. The profuse ornaments, consisting of portraitures of some of the most elegant grasses &c., are printed in gold. An elegantly enriched dedication page affords an appropriate space designed expressly to receive the name of the giver or receiver of the work, and the binding is of a massive, rich, and novel description, introduced for the first time expressly for this Book".

Published as part of Jerrard's series 'Cream and Gold Presents appropriate for marriage, birthday and festive occasions for all seasons', the work served as an elaborate luxury object for the mid-Victorian gift market.

A defective copy of a seldom seen publication.