Maria Sibylla Merian and a Japanese insect lover's dream

[mokky]

Dear Insect Enthusiasts,

If you are a fan of insects or natural history, you might already know the name Maria Sibylla Merian. She was a remarkable pioneer who became fascinated by insects over 300 years ago. Along with her daughter, she journeyed to Suriname in South America, a place considered to be the other side of the world at that time. There, she observed the insects and natural environment, publishing stunning hand-colored etchings of her findings. Her book, *Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium* (The Insects of Suriname), is preserved in the libraries of prestigious universities and museums worldwide, and continues to captivate many people even today.

In Japan, there is an insect enthusiast who was so inspired by Merian’s work that, after decades of effort, he finally acquired an original copy of her book. It is believed that there are only three original copies in Japan. As he gazed at the book, he came to the realization that this is not something to be privately enjoyed, but rather a cultural heritage that should be shared with many people. With the help of supporters who shared his passion, two years ago a complete facsimile edition was published, faithfully reproducing the original engravings and translating the text into Japanese. Wanting it to be accessible to many, he donated this book to libraries in every prefecture across Japan, free of charge.

In his younger years, he made numerous trips to South America, including Brazil, and even contributed to the establishment of an insect museum in Manaus. Unfortunately, he never had the opportunity to visit Suriname. Now at 80 years old, he dreams of visiting Suriname while he still can, to see with his own eyes the insects and landscapes that Merian once observed. He also hopes, if possible, to conduct some collecting in unregulated areas outside of the national parks.

Wishing to help fulfill his lifelong dream, I intend to accompany and assist him on this journey.

However, for Japanese people, Suriname remains as distant and mysterious as it was in Merian’s time. There is still very little information available, and Japan does not even have a consulate there.

Therefore, I am posting here, hoping that someone among you might have knowledge or experience related to Suriname and could offer assistance.

Would you be willing to help make an elderly insect enthusiast’s dream come true?

Please send PM for further discussion in detail.

Last but not least, here is an article I wrote about his story and the people who support his dream. It is only in Japanese, but I hope that with tools like Google Translate, the essence of the story will come across.

[Link to article (Japanese only)](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/202211 ... 91000.html)

Sincerely,
Mokky

[lamprima2]

Mokky,
Thank you for bringing everyone's attention to
"Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium" and its author.
For those interested, a free high-definition PDF copy of Merian's
book is available at https://gdz.sub.uni-goettingen.de/id/PPN477653782