Product guide

Iconotypes: A Compendium of Butterflies and Moths, Jones' Icones Complete

Iconotypes: A Compendium of Butterflies and Moths, Jones' Icones Complete presents William Jones’s historical butterfly and moth paintings alongside modern taxonomic notes, specimen maps, and contextual essays. The listing describes more than 760 depicted species and a substantial illustrated scholarly volume, suited to readers interested in natural history, art, and the history of Lepidoptera.

At a glance

Presents Jones’s paintings of more than 760 Lepidoptera species, according to the listing.
Adds modern taxonomic names and notes identifying paintings that serve as iconotypes.
Includes annotated maps showing specimen discovery locations.
Features commentary by entomologist Richard I. Vane-Wright and essays on natural-history illustration, taxonomy, and Lepidoptera.

Price

$28.51Save 19%

Reference price: ~~$35.00~~

Price checked: Nov 14, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Combines historical illustrations with modern taxonomic clarification, making the material useful to both art-focused and natural-history readers.
Maps and contextual essays add geographic and historical background beyond the facsimile paintings.
The 688-page scope offers room for an in-depth treatment rather than a brief picture collection.

Cons

At 4.2 pounds and 688 pages, it is a substantial book to carry or read while traveling.

Technical specifications

9 specifications

Publication
Publisher	University of California Press
Publication date	November 16, 2021
Edition	First Edition
Language	English
Print length	688 pages
ISBN-10	0520386507
ISBN-13	978-0520386501

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	4.2 pounds
Dimensions	7.25 x 2.3 x 9.63 inches

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Lepidopterists and natural-history readers interested in historical species records.
Art historians, illustrators, designers, and bibliophiles drawn to scientific imagery.
Readers seeking context on taxonomy and the history of butterfly and moth study.

Less suited to

Readers who need a compact field guide for identifying local butterflies or moths outdoors.
Buyers looking primarily for a short, lightweight picture book.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.6 / 5 · 35 ratings

5 stars80%80%
4 stars10%10%
3 stars6%6%
2 stars2%2%
1 star2%2%

Aggregate ratings lean strongly positive, with most ratings in the top category, but they do not reveal what readers specifically praised or criticized. That broad reception may be reassuring, yet it cannot establish the accuracy of the taxonomy or the quality of the illustrations. The listed maps, historical paintings, and expert context are the clearest grounds for deciding whether the book fits your interests.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in Iconotypes?

The listing describes Jones’s butterfly and moth paintings, modern taxonomic names, annotated specimen maps, expert commentary, and essays on the history of Lepidoptera study.

Is this a field identification guide?

The described contents focus on historical paintings, taxonomy, and context. The listing does not present it as a compact field guide for identifying local species outdoors.

How large is the book?

The listed print length is 688 pages, and the listed weight is 4.2 pounds, so it is a substantial reference-style volume.