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RUEFF, Jacob (1500-1558). De conceptu et generatione hominis: De matrice et eius partibus, nec non de conditione infantis in utero, et gravidarum cura et officio. Frankfurt: Sigismund Feyrabend for Georg Corvinus, 1580.
4 (192 x 144mm). Large woodcut title vignette, woodcut illustrations, some full-page. With blank b2. (Title frayed and with old repairs at margins, the vignette rubbed and affected by small wax stain, persistent soiling, mainly marginal, X3 recto with heavier soil mark, end quires heavily stained at lower margin.) Old limp vellum (upper cover repaired, heavy stain on lower cover, spine rubbed and darkened).
Rff, town physician in Zurich, published his book in both Latin and German in 1554. It contrasted favourably with earlier obstetrical works, both in the amount and accuracy of its information, and in its illustrations. However, this was the FIRST EDITION TO INCLUDE THE WOODCUTS OF JOST AMMAN (1539-1591), the Swiss-born illustrator. They include two scenes of a pregnant noblewoman and of a woman giving birth with the midwife in attendance, 26 cuts of the uterus and developing foetus, 5 of obstetrical instruments and 3 of abdominal organs. A large number of cuts are also devoted to human deformities and monsters. Although there is still some religious basis to the latter, Rff's was the first obstetrical book to contain meaningful anatomical illustrations, and remained in use for the best part of a century. Adams A-867; Durling NLM 3981; Heirs of Hippocrates 233.
4 (192 x 144mm). Large woodcut title vignette, woodcut illustrations, some full-page. With blank b2. (Title frayed and with old repairs at margins, the vignette rubbed and affected by small wax stain, persistent soiling, mainly marginal, X3 recto with heavier soil mark, end quires heavily stained at lower margin.) Old limp vellum (upper cover repaired, heavy stain on lower cover, spine rubbed and darkened).
Rff, town physician in Zurich, published his book in both Latin and German in 1554. It contrasted favourably with earlier obstetrical works, both in the amount and accuracy of its information, and in its illustrations. However, this was the FIRST EDITION TO INCLUDE THE WOODCUTS OF JOST AMMAN (1539-1591), the Swiss-born illustrator. They include two scenes of a pregnant noblewoman and of a woman giving birth with the midwife in attendance, 26 cuts of the uterus and developing foetus, 5 of obstetrical instruments and 3 of abdominal organs. A large number of cuts are also devoted to human deformities and monsters. Although there is still some religious basis to the latter, Rff's was the first obstetrical book to contain meaningful anatomical illustrations, and remained in use for the best part of a century. Adams A-867; Durling NLM 3981; Heirs of Hippocrates 233.