I started purchasing books on butterflies when I was young. At the beginning very simple guides with no taxonomic-scientific interest and full of mistakes. Well, it did not matter to me I was just interested in beautiful drawings. I much prefer, I have always preferred books with illustrations than photographs, I find them so charming. In any case, photographs show the insects as they are in the real world, both prepared specimens and butterflies in their natural environment.
![Book of butterflies](https://guillermocoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/libros-mariposas-1.jpg)
As far as the European butterflies are concerned I have two classic field guides written by Tom Tolman and Lionel G. Higgins. These works have been published a number of times in different countries and are beautifully illustrated by Richard Levington and Brian Hargreaves. I have also, in my library, some books on species of butterflies from all over the world, night and day butterflies. Among all these books I need to mention The Concise Atlas of the Butterflies of the World, by Bernard d’Abrera. One always tends to store many more things than necessary: I am always aware of new discoveries when I go to a bookstore (I am really fond of old books!). One day I found two splendid field guides published in Great Britain, around 1973, by Frederick Warne Publisher.
I have my own sketches and my notebooks too; I write notes, make simple drawings to capture my impressions or my thoughts. I usually carry a small notebook bound like real books that can fit everywhere. Every fine arts’ company produces these notebooks with drawing paper or watercolour paper sheets.