CROCE, Giovanni Andrea dalla (1509?-1580). Chirurgiae universalis opus absolutum, Venice: Roberto Meietti, 1596, 2°, later edition, title in red and black with Meietti's device of two cocks, 70 pages of woodcuts at end illustrating surgical instruments and operations, many historiated and decorative initials, woodcut typographical ornaments (lacking final leaf f6, title with old repairs, many leaves with light dampstaining in lower part of page, I3 with slight stain and 2 small holes at inner margin, some marginal tears to last few leaves, final gathering with library stamp on lower margin of each leaf recto and verso, perforation to title, cancellation stamp on title verso and accession no. at head of dedication), contemporary calf, covers roll-tooled and ruled in blind (rebacked, corners worn, scuff marks to both covers, wear to spine, upper joints cracked) [Adams C2993; Durling 1083; Waller 2275; Wellcome I, 1667] Provenance: Michel Boudewyns, physician of Antwerp (inscription and quotation from Galen on front blank); bookseller's puff in French on front free endpaper; Mortimer Frank (bookplate).

Details

CROCE, Giovanni Andrea dalla (1509?-1580). Chirurgiae universalis opus absolutum, Venice: Roberto Meietti, 1596, 2°, later edition, title in red and black with Meietti's device of two cocks, 70 pages of woodcuts at end illustrating surgical instruments and operations, many historiated and decorative initials, woodcut typographical ornaments (lacking final leaf f6, title with old repairs, many leaves with light dampstaining in lower part of page, I3 with slight stain and 2 small holes at inner margin, some marginal tears to last few leaves, final gathering with library stamp on lower margin of each leaf recto and verso, perforation to title, cancellation stamp on title verso and accession no. at head of dedication), contemporary calf, covers roll-tooled and ruled in blind (rebacked, corners worn, scuff marks to both covers, wear to spine, upper joints cracked) [Adams C2993; Durling 1083; Waller 2275; Wellcome I, 1667] Provenance: Michel Boudewyns, physician of Antwerp (inscription and quotation from Galen on front blank); bookseller's puff in French on front free endpaper; Mortimer Frank (bookplate).

Lot Essay

Little is known about the Venetian surgeon Croce. His work on surgery, first published in 1573, was mainly a compilation of important authorities from Hippocrates to Abulcasis, and is distinguished by the surprisingly modern recommendations for wound management and a high quality of illustration over several editions. The Dutch physician Michiel Boudewyns (1601-1681), the first known owner of the present copy, was the author of Dienstich ende ghenuchelijck tyt-verdryf voor siecken, om ghesont te worden, en voor ghesonde om niet sieck te zijn (Antwerp, 1654) and Ventilabrum medico-theologicum (Antwerp, 1666).

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