Ernst Hofmann Caterpillars Journal — 1893 European Lepidoptera Plates Notebook

The butterfly gets all the attention. But the caterpillar — the larva, the creature that the butterfly was before it became itself — is in many ways the more interesting animal. It is the caterpillar that does the eating, the growing, the accumulating of energy that will eventually power the extraordinary process of metamorphosis. It is the caterpillar that is specific to its host plant, that has evolved its colours and patterns in response to the particular pressures of its particular environment. And it is the caterpillar that Ernst Hofmann documented, in 1893, with a chromolithographic precision and beauty that had never been achieved before.

Hofmann’s Die Raupen der Schmetterlinge Europas — The Caterpillars of European Butterflies and Moths — filled a genuine gap in the entomological literature: a comprehensive visual reference for the identification of European lepidoptera larvae, showing each species on its host plant, in its characteristic posture and colour pattern, with the scientific accuracy of a German naturalist and the visual richness of the finest Victorian chromolithography. The cover of this journal carries those plates — caterpillars documented at the height of Victorian natural history illustration, in colours that reward sustained attention and reveal more the longer you look.

Product Details

• Format: Hardcover journal
• Pages: 150 lined pages (75 sheets) with perforations for easy removal
• Binding: Casewrap sewn binding — flexible and lay-flat
• Dimensions: 5.75 × 8 inches
• Weight: 100 g
• Cover: Matte laminated full-wrap print
• Illustration: Ernst Hofmann, Die Raupen der Schmetterlinge Europas (1893) — chromolithograph
• European lepidoptera larvae on host plants, German entomological tradition

Perfect For

• Entomologists and lepidopterists
• Butterfly and moth enthusiasts
• Victorian natural history collectors
• Nature observation logs and field journals
• Anyone who finds wonder in transformation and metamorphosis
• A beautiful gift for naturalists and nature lovers

The Story Behind the Plates

The Victorian science of metamorphosis, the relationship between caterpillar and host plant, and why chromolithography was the perfect medium for documenting the extraordinary diversity of larval coloration — read the full story on our blog →