Butterfly Journal — Johnson's 1896 Cyclopedia North American Lepidoptera Field Guide

Carry the spirit of Victorian natural history — when Johnson's Universal Cyclopedia illustrated the wonder of North American butterflies and moths in exquisite chromolithographic detail, and the golden age of scientific illustration gave the Monarch, the Tiger Swallowtail, and the Great Peacock Moth the precise and beautiful portraits they deserved.

This hardcover journal celebrates four iconic plates from the 1896 Johnson's Universal Cyclopedia, a landmark reference that brought scientific precision and artistic beauty to the study of lepidoptera. The front cover showcases the complete Butterflies of North America and Moths of North America plate, featuring over 30 meticulously rendered species including the Monarch (Anosia plexippus), Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus), Mourning Cloak (Vanessa antiopa), and the magnificent Great Peacock Moth. Published during the golden age of natural history illustration, these chromolithographic engravings served both scientific documentation and public education, capturing the delicate wing patterns, color gradations, and anatomical details that made Victorian field guides treasured references for naturalists and collectors alike.

Front Cover — Butterflies & Moths of North America, Johnson's Universal Cyclopedia, 1896:
The front cover presents the complete scientific plate identifying prominent species by both common and Latin names. The Monarch butterfly commands central attention with its iconic orange and black wings, flanked by the yellow-striped Tiger Swallowtail from Massachusetts, the Blue Emperor (Limenitis astyanax) mimicking the Pipevine Swallowtail, and the spring-heralding Mourning Cloak with its maroon wings and yellow border. The Red Admiral displays both upper and under wing sides, while the plate also documents the Azure, American Copper, Orange and Black Swallowtail, Sulphur, and moth species including the Salt-Marsh Moth, Red Underwing (Catocala cara), and the hummingbird-mimicking Hemaris thysbe sphinx moth.

Back Cover — Four Classic Lepidoptera Plates: Victorian Scientific Collage, Johnson's Cyclopedia, 1896:
The back cover assembles four complementary plates from the same 1896 cyclopedia, creating a comprehensive visual reference. The upper left features nymphalids and garden species including The Queen, Diana Fritillary, Large Blue, Painted Lady, and Crompton Tortoise. The upper right showcases the Pale Blue, Red Admiral, Mourning Cloak, and Blue Banded butterflies. The lower left centers on the Milkweed Butterfly (Monarch) surrounded by Wood White, Orange Colias, Copper, Snout, Clifden Blue, Brown Argus, and Acadian Hairstreak. The lower right is dedicated entirely to moths: Great Peacock Moth with eye-spots, Crimson Moth, Clifden Nonpareil with blue banding, Goat Moth, Scalloped Oak, Large Yellow Underwing, and Small Angle Shades.

Why This Journal Inspires:

• Victorian chromolithographic precision celebrating 30+ North American butterfly and moth species from Johnson's 1896 Universal Cyclopedia
• Front cover: complete scientific Butterflies and Moths of North America reference plate with Latin nomenclature
• Back cover: four complementary lepidoptera plates spanning nymphalids, swallowtails, blues, and nocturnal moths
• Authentic 19th-century natural history aesthetic honoring the golden age of scientific illustration and field guide documentation

Product Details:

• Format: Hardcover lined journal
• Pages: 150 perforated lined pages for easy removal
• Binding: Casewrap sewn binding
• Dimensions: 5.5 × 8.5 inches
• Weight: Approximately 400g
• Cover: Matte laminated full-wrap print

Perfect For:

• Lepidopterists and entomology enthusiasts documenting butterfly and moth observations
• Victorian natural history collectors celebrating 1890s scientific illustration traditions
• Field naturalists recording species sightings with authentic cyclopedia-inspired aesthetics
• Gift for anyone captivated by the delicate beauty and extraordinary diversity of North American lepidoptera
• Science educators teaching North American butterfly identification and Victorian taxonomy
• Writers and creatives inspired by the precision, color, and ambition of Victorian chromolithographic natural history

Carry the legacy of Johnson's 1896 Universal Cyclopedia — where Victorian science met chromolithographic artistry to celebrate the delicate beauty of North American butterflies and moths, and the Monarch and the Great Peacock Moth found their place in the history of natural history illustration.

EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Generic brand, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Care instructions: Use a soft, clean and dry cloth to gently brush any dust or dirt off from the center of book outwards.