Botanicals: Butterflies and Insects, edited by Leslie K. Overstreet, is a compilation of over three centuries of botanical drawings gathered from a variety of rare books in the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. The plates are intricate depictions of plants, flowers, butterflies and insects and would make an excellent study guide for anyone interested in sketching these or looking for models. While the topic is not really a tenet of contemporary art, these illustrations could come in handy for a variety of artistic practices.

Hardcover, 416 pages. Chronicle Books, 2008. $31.50 at Amazon.

+ Botanicals: Butterflies & Insects at Amazon