Property from the Estate of BEATRICE BISHOP BERLE
RYFF, WALTHER HERMANN. Die kleiner Chirgurgi... Das ist der grund und kern gemeyner eynleyttung der gantzen wundartznei. (Strassburg: Heirs of Balthasar Beck) 1551. 4to, 194 x 150 mm. (7 5/8 x 5 7/8 in.), contemporary German blind-stamped sheep or deerskin over pasteboard, upper cover with central panel stamp of Christ carrying the cross and a globe with the inscription "D[ies] ist mein gelibter Sohn", this panel and six small globe tools above and below it originally gold-stamped, central panel of lower cover consisting of part of a roll-tool depicting Lucretia and signed CH, both framed by floral and biblical roll-tools, spine in four compartments blind-tooled with swirling arabesques, remains of later silk ties, quite rubbed, minor staining and soiling to title, paper slightly darkened throughout, some mostly marginal foxing. Second edition, gothic type, 11 woodcuts, of which 3 full-page (one repeated), of anatomy and distilling apparatuses. Benzing Ryff 113; NLM/Durling 4017.
Details
RYFF, WALTHER HERMANN. Die kleiner Chirgurgi... Das ist der grund und kern gemeyner eynleyttung der gantzen wundartznei. (Strassburg: Heirs of Balthasar Beck) 1551. 4to, 194 x 150 mm. (7 5/8 x 5 7/8 in.), contemporary German blind-stamped sheep or deerskin over pasteboard, upper cover with central panel stamp of Christ carrying the cross and a globe with the inscription "D[ies] ist mein gelibter Sohn", this panel and six small globe tools above and below it originally gold-stamped, central panel of lower cover consisting of part of a roll-tool depicting Lucretia and signed CH, both framed by floral and biblical roll-tools, spine in four compartments blind-tooled with swirling arabesques, remains of later silk ties, quite rubbed, minor staining and soiling to title, paper slightly darkened throughout, some mostly marginal foxing. Second edition, gothic type, 11 woodcuts, of which 3 full-page (one repeated), of anatomy and distilling apparatuses. Benzing Ryff 113; NLM/Durling 4017.
A native of Strassburg who became physician of Nürnberg, Ryff was widely reputed as a skillful doctor, but was frequently accused of plagiarizing the works of his contemporaries -- notably Vesalius, Gesner and Fuchs -- in his numerous writings, all of which are now rare.
Provenance: Large sixteenth-century woodcut armorial bookplate on front pastedown (of Veit August Holzschuher?) -- Cortlandt Field Bishop, morocco bookplate (sale, American Art Association/Anderson Galleries, New York, part 3, 14-15 November 1938, lot 1996).
A native of Strassburg who became physician of Nürnberg, Ryff was widely reputed as a skillful doctor, but was frequently accused of plagiarizing the works of his contemporaries -- notably Vesalius, Gesner and Fuchs -- in his numerous writings, all of which are now rare.
Provenance: Large sixteenth-century woodcut armorial bookplate on front pastedown (of Veit August Holzschuher?) -- Cortlandt Field Bishop, morocco bookplate (sale, American Art Association/Anderson Galleries, New York, part 3, 14-15 November 1938, lot 1996).