THE PRACTICAL ENTOMOLOGIST. A Monthly Bulletin ... [Vols. I-II.]

Philadelphia: Entomological Society of Philadelphia, [later the] American Entomological Society, Oct. 1865 - Sept. 1867. Vol. I, nos. 1-12; Vol. II, nos. 1-12. All published. Comprised of 23 issues, the final two numbers having been combined in the final issue. [4], 128, 121 pages, plus one or two leaves of ads at the end of each of the last six issues (for a total of [15] pages of ads.) Additional ads included in the pagination. Illustrated with occasional engravings in the text. [The preliminary matter consists of a series title page and index for vol. II. The subtitle of the periodical varies: Vol. I, nos. 1-5: “A Monthly Bulletin, Published by the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, for Gratuitous Distribution among Farmers and Agriculturalists." Vol. I, no. 6 – vol. II, no. 5: "A Monthly Bulletin, Published by the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, for the Dissemination of Valuable Knowledge among Agriculturalists and Horticulturists." (This change came with the introduction of subscription fees.) Vol. II, nos. 6-12: “A Monthly Bulletin, Published by the American Entomological Society, for the Dissemination of Valuable Knowledge among Agriculturalists and Horticulturists." (This change reflected a change in the name of the society itself, not a different publisher).] Bound in one volume of contemporary brown leather over marbled boards with gilt lettering and rules on spine. Ex-Sondley Reference Library with tasteful bookplate on front pastedown, embossed stamp on two leaves, and marginal ink stamp on two pages. Else good plus. Some superficial loss of spine leather; a small piece of paper torn from each board. Small ink stain to first page of first issue, but underlying text legible; occasional, mostly marginal foxing; damping to upper corners of a few leaves; some leaves a little toned. FIRST EDITIONS. A complete run of this significant periodical, edited and with contributions by a leading American entomologist. “Distinguished as the first U.S. journal devoted to economic entomology, the Practical Entomologist sought to address the needs of farmers, who were beset with the ravages of insects and a raft of bogus insecticides hawked by disreputable peddlers.... From October 1865 to October 1866, [Benjamin Dana Walsh] was associate editor of the Practical Entomologist and served as its sole editor through September 1867, all without pay. For two years, Walsh met monthly deadlines for all the published `Answers to Correspondents,' which frequently amounted to more than 20 responses per issue, each requiring a paragraph or more, often a feature article (usually on a major insect pest), and numerous shorter pieces.” --Carol A. Sheppard, “Benjamin Dana Walsh: Pioneer Entomologist and Proponent of Darwinian Theory,” Annual Review of Entomology, Vol. 49. Walsh (1808-1869) was born in England and educated at Cambridge. In 1838, he emigrated to Illinois, where he struggled as a farmer before gaining financial security in the lumber business and through real estate investments. Long an amateur entomologist, he devoted most of his later years to the science, amassing a significant collection of specimens, corresponding with the leading naturalists of his day, and making important contributions to the periodical literature as an author and editor. He was one of the founders of the Illinois Natural History Society in 1858 and he was appointed the first State Entomologist of Illinois in 1867. The latter was a paid position in which he was primarily concerned with using scientific research to aid farmers with insect control. When the "Practical Entomologist" was discontinued, he became editor of the "American Entomologist," in which position he continued until the time of his death. Walsh is also remembered as an early proponent of Darwin's theory of evolution, as one of the first entomologists to make contributions to the development of evolutionary theory, and as a correspondent of the famous naturalist.