Oxford University Museum of Natural History conserves in its archives the only manuscript copy of Jones's Icones in existence in the world, together with Jones's surviving papers, correspondence, field notebooks and butterfly and moth collection. Richard I. Vane-Wright is an entomologist and taxonomist who has been associated with the Natural History Museum for nearly sixty years. A specialist on butterflies, he retired from the museum in 2004 as Head Keeper of the Department of Entomology. He has 250 journal publications to his name, and books including Milkweed Butterflies and The Seymer Legacy. He is also involved with biodiversity conservation and local entomological projects.

Foreword by Professor Paul Smith, Director of Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Introduction: William Jones & the Birth of the Icones by Richard I .Vane-Wright

Icones Volume I: Papiliones Equites: Troes & Achivi
Map-Distribution of iconotype species in Europe
Article-The early study of Lepidoptera by Alberto Zilli
Icones Volume II: Papiliones Heliconii
Map-Distribution of iconotype species in North & Central America
Icones Volume III: Papiliones Danai: Candidi & Festivi
Map-Distribution of iconotype species in South America
Article-A flourishing of lepidopterological activity by Alberto Zilli
Icones Volume IV: Papiliones Nymphales: Gemmati & Phalerati
Map-Distribution of iconotype species in Asia
Article-Collecting Lepidoptera in the 18th & 19th centuries by Arlene Leis
Icones Volume V: Papiliones Nymphales
Map-Distribution of iconotype species in Africa
Article-The art of painting butterflies by Stefanie Jovanovic-Kruspel
Icones Volume VI: Papiliones Plebeji
Map-Distribution of iconotype species in Australasia
Article-The decline of Lepidoptera around the globe by Francisco Sánchez-Bayo
Icones Volume VII: Papiliones

Conclusion: The Legacy of William Jones by Richard I. Vane-Wright
Full listing of Jones's iconotypes
Bibliography
Sources of illustrations
Index to the butterflies
Index to the articles
Acknowledgments