William John Lucas (1858 /1932) - "Libellule e Damigelle", British Dragonflies - 1900

Lot of 16 sheets, including 8 chromolithographs and 8 descriptive leaves

Type: color chromolithograph;
Support: Heavy, smooth, absorbent paper;
Condition: Excellent inking/printing, good state of preservation with slight traces of foxing and browning, binding marks, all as shown in the photos;
Shipping: INSURED via BARTOLINI/DPD courier, declare any damage at pickup;
Provenance: From a private collection;

William John Lucas FRES (1858–1932) was a British entomologist.

Lucas studied at an Oxford grammar school and then attended the University of London. He became a teacher at Tiffin Boys' School in Kingston upon Thames and was appointed lecturer in Natural History for the Surrey County Council. In 1898 Lucas was elected a member of the Entomological Society of London.

He was an authority on British Orthoptera, Odonata, and Neuroptera. In his British Dragonflies, published in 1900, he described 39 British species. The book contained coloured plates. "For many years this was the only book available" for students of British dragonflies.

In 1901 Lucas joined the editorial board of The Entomologist.

He served on the council of the Entomological Society from 1904 to 1906,[5] was president of the South London Entomological Society and vice-president of the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. [6]

Lucas not only published important works, with plates painted by himself, "he was also a great teacher and unstintingly inspired young workers."