Details
TOWNSEND, Peter S. (d. 1849). Case of the Three Remarkable Tumours Extirpated from the Nose. New York: J. Seymour, 1825. 8o (224 x 140 mm). 2 lithographed plates after P.S. Townsend by Imbert, New York (spotting, mostly in the margins, short tears at the sheet edges). 8 pages (last page soiled, short handling tears, otherwise in good condition). Modern linen-backed boards, paper spine label. Provenance: Louis Paine (?), governor of the Bahamas, his signature at end and annotations; J. Moss, presentation inscription from the author.
FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed by the author on the title "Mr. J. Moss with the author's compliments." Townsend's pamphlet, dated 19 November 1825, describes the case of John Russel, "aged 54, a planter, of Abaco, one of the Bahama Islands." Russel was struck with smallpox in 1799 but recovered after a severe illness. His face, however, remained pitted and in particular his nose, in the words of the author, was "particularly rough," as it had indurated and blackened due to his repeated squeezing. The resulting inflammation of the sebaceous glands produced tumors which increased in size in the 20 years Russel let lapse without treatment. In these intervening years, Russel's notoriety grew out of the Bahamas and he became proverbially known as Big-Nose Russell. Louis Paine, who signs the book at end, adds a manuscript note on page 6, placing an asterisk by this nickname and noting at the foot of the page, "Nosy Russell," presumably another moniker by which the ill-fated patient was known. Finally, he grew tired of the derision and consulted Townsend, then in Nassau. The first plate shows a rather gruesome Russel in his ill condition. Townsend then describes his analysis of the problem, and the labored process he endured while trying to convince Russel to undergo surgery. Russel finally submitted, and the entire procedure lasted five minutes. The results are depicted in the second plate showing a much-improved Russel, with Louis Paine's manuscript annotation at the head, "The nose was made handsomer than is here represented." At end is a further manuscript note "Certified and confirmed by Louis Paine (?) late governor Bahamas." The plates, made after drawings by the author, are early examples of New York lithography. Not in Sabin, Garrison-Morton.
FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed by the author on the title "Mr. J. Moss with the author's compliments." Townsend's pamphlet, dated 19 November 1825, describes the case of John Russel, "aged 54, a planter, of Abaco, one of the Bahama Islands." Russel was struck with smallpox in 1799 but recovered after a severe illness. His face, however, remained pitted and in particular his nose, in the words of the author, was "particularly rough," as it had indurated and blackened due to his repeated squeezing. The resulting inflammation of the sebaceous glands produced tumors which increased in size in the 20 years Russel let lapse without treatment. In these intervening years, Russel's notoriety grew out of the Bahamas and he became proverbially known as Big-Nose Russell. Louis Paine, who signs the book at end, adds a manuscript note on page 6, placing an asterisk by this nickname and noting at the foot of the page, "Nosy Russell," presumably another moniker by which the ill-fated patient was known. Finally, he grew tired of the derision and consulted Townsend, then in Nassau. The first plate shows a rather gruesome Russel in his ill condition. Townsend then describes his analysis of the problem, and the labored process he endured while trying to convince Russel to undergo surgery. Russel finally submitted, and the entire procedure lasted five minutes. The results are depicted in the second plate showing a much-improved Russel, with Louis Paine's manuscript annotation at the head, "The nose was made handsomer than is here represented." At end is a further manuscript note "Certified and confirmed by Louis Paine (?) late governor Bahamas." The plates, made after drawings by the author, are early examples of New York lithography. Not in Sabin, Garrison-Morton.