VESALIUS Andreas (1514-1564). De humani corporis fabrica libri septem, Basle: Joannes Oporinus, [1555], 2°, second folio edition, woodcut title depicting a dissection scene, woodcut portrait on a6v, woodcut illustrations and initials (title trimmed, laid down and detached with perforation stamp to top right-hand corner, also soiled, a few other leaves with minor soiling, a2 guarded, marginal wormtrace on O3-P4, lacking final leaf Ee6 with printer's device), 19th-century morocco-backed marbled boards (rubbed), t.e.g. [Adams V605; Choulant/Frank p. 181; Durling 4579; Norman 2139; Osler 568; Wellcome I 6562; cf. GM 375 (first edition of 1543] Provenance: front free endpapers with extensive manuscript notes in an early hand; several early ownership inscriptions on title cartouche; occasional annotations and underlining of text; John Crerar bookplate.

Details

VESALIUS Andreas (1514-1564). De humani corporis fabrica libri septem, Basle: Joannes Oporinus, [1555], 2°, second folio edition, woodcut title depicting a dissection scene, woodcut portrait on a6v, woodcut illustrations and initials (title trimmed, laid down and detached with perforation stamp to top right-hand corner, also soiled, a few other leaves with minor soiling, a2 guarded, marginal wormtrace on O³-P⁴, lacking final leaf Ee6 with printer's device), 19th-century morocco-backed marbled boards (rubbed), t.e.g. [Adams V605; Choulant/Frank p. 181; Durling 4579; Norman 2139; Osler 568; Wellcome I 6562; cf. GM 375 (first edition of 1543] Provenance: front free endpapers with extensive manuscript notes in an early hand; several early ownership inscriptions on title cartouche; occasional annotations and underlining of text; John Crerar bookplate.

Lot Essay

The illustrations are from the 1543 edition but the title and initials were newly cut and larger type and heavier paper used for this edition. A book of vital importance in the cannon of medical literature it "prepared the way for the rebirth of physiology by Harvey" [GM]

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