Details
VESALIUS, Andreas. De Humani corporis fabrica Libri septem. Basel: [Joannes Oporinus, June 1543].
2° (422 x 285mm.). Woodcut title showing Vesalius in the operating theatre (repaired in lower outer corner), woodcut portrait of the author on *6v, bifolium m3 (woodcut diagram of the circulatory system) with cut-out overlays, with unpaginated cancel leaf of the cutouts, folding woodcut plate (diagram of the nervous system) between p3 & 4 (small marginal repairs), over 200 woodcut anatomical illustrations in the text, including 21 full-page and 2 double-page showing the muscular, skeletal, vascular and nervous systems, 6 fourteen-line, 180 seven-line and 22 four-line historiated initials showing surgery, final imprint leaf with woodcut printer's device (tear in lower corner of Ff4 & 5 repaired, a few other small marginal tears repaired, waterstain in upper outer corner of some leaves towards end, somewhat wormed, more severe at beginning and end). Contemporary blind-stamped calf over wooden boards (restored), spine in seven compartments (rebacked preserving original calf), brass and leather clasps. Provenance: a few near contemporary Latin gloss on some pages.
FIRST EDITION OF THIS REVOLUTIONARY WORK ON ANATOMY in which Versalius provided a more detailed and correct description of the human body, and asserted that the physician himself must undertake the dissection of the cadavre to obtain full knowledge of human anatomy, as illustrated in the woodcut title. The excellent woodcuts, for which the work has been described as the most famous of anatomical illustrations, have been attributed to the school of Titian, are located in the text on the specific instructions of the author to his printer, so as to facilitate the volumes use as a textbook. Adams V-603; Burndy/Dibner 122; Hook and Norman 2137; Garrison and Morton 373; Grolier/Horblit 98; PMM 71; Waller 9899.
2° (422 x 285mm.). Woodcut title showing Vesalius in the operating theatre (repaired in lower outer corner), woodcut portrait of the author on *6v, bifolium m3 (woodcut diagram of the circulatory system) with cut-out overlays, with unpaginated cancel leaf of the cutouts, folding woodcut plate (diagram of the nervous system) between p3 & 4 (small marginal repairs), over 200 woodcut anatomical illustrations in the text, including 21 full-page and 2 double-page showing the muscular, skeletal, vascular and nervous systems, 6 fourteen-line, 180 seven-line and 22 four-line historiated initials showing surgery, final imprint leaf with woodcut printer's device (tear in lower corner of Ff4 & 5 repaired, a few other small marginal tears repaired, waterstain in upper outer corner of some leaves towards end, somewhat wormed, more severe at beginning and end). Contemporary blind-stamped calf over wooden boards (restored), spine in seven compartments (rebacked preserving original calf), brass and leather clasps. Provenance: a few near contemporary Latin gloss on some pages.
FIRST EDITION OF THIS REVOLUTIONARY WORK ON ANATOMY in which Versalius provided a more detailed and correct description of the human body, and asserted that the physician himself must undertake the dissection of the cadavre to obtain full knowledge of human anatomy, as illustrated in the woodcut title. The excellent woodcuts, for which the work has been described as the most famous of anatomical illustrations, have been attributed to the school of Titian, are located in the text on the specific instructions of the author to his printer, so as to facilitate the volumes use as a textbook. Adams V-603; Burndy/Dibner 122; Hook and Norman 2137; Garrison and Morton 373; Grolier/Horblit 98; PMM 71; Waller 9899.