Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Humphreys, Henry Noel

by Warwick William Wroth

HUMPHREYS, HENRY NOEL (1810–1879), artist, naturalist, and numismatist, born at Birmingham on 4 Jan. 1810, was the son of James Humphreys of that town. He was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham, and afterwards resided in Italy. He returned to England about 1840. Humphreys was a successful book-illustrator, especially of works of natural history, such as Westwood's 'British Butterflies.' He was also the author of some popular numismatic handbooks, useful in their day. He died at his house, 7 Westbourne Square, London, on 10 June 1879. The following are his principal productions:

1. Illustrations for Westwood's 'British Butterflies,' 1841, 4to.
2. Illustrations for Loudon's 'British Wild Flowers' [1856], 4to.
3. 'Ocean Gardens,' London, 1857, 8vo.
4. 'River Gardens,' London,1857,sq.8vo.
5. 'The Butterfly Vivarium,' London, 1858, 8vo.
6. 'The Genera and Species of British Butterflies,' London [1859], 8vo.
7. 'The Genera of British Moths,' London [1860], 8vo.
8. 'The Coins of England,' 1846, 8vo.
9. 'The Coinage of the British Empire,' London, 1854, 4to.
10. 'The Coin-Collector's Manual,' 2 vols (Bohn's Scientific Library), 1847, &c.
11. 'Ancient Coins and Medals' (with facsimiles), London, 1850, 4to.
12. 'Illuminated Illustrations of Froissart,' 1844, &c., 4to.
13. 'The Illuminated Books of the Middle Ages,' 1844-9, fol. (with Owen Jones).
14. 'The Art of Illumination and Missal Painting,'1849,8vo.
15. 'The Origin and Progress of Art of Writing,' 1853,4to.
16. 'A History of the Art of Printing,' 1867, fol.
17. 'Stories by an Archæologist,' 1856, 8vo.

[Obituary by J. O. Westwood in Academy for 21 June 1879, p.550; Times, 16 June 1879, p. 12, col. 4; Athenæum, 21 June 1879, p. 800; Brit. Mus. Cat.]

W. W.