xxvi, 310 pp. 8vo, cont. patterned green cloth, spine nicely gilt in the Romantic style, a.e.g. Berlin: G. Reimer, 1842.

First edition and a lovely copy of this notable work on plastic surgery, one of the most comprehensive works on the subject up to that time. Ammon (1799-1861), was also well known in the field of ophthalmology for his great atlas of eye pathology, the best summary of knowledge of eye diseases before the invention of the ophthalmoscope. In plastic surgery, Ammon exerted a tremendous influence through his critical reports and his publication of new methods, especially for the areas... More about Die plastische Chirurgie nach ihren bisherigen Leistungen kritisch dargestellt

17 painted scenes, using brush and colors, on 63 pages. 34; 25; 22 folding leaves. Three vols. 8vo (270 x 187 mm.), orig. wrappers, modern stitching. [Japan]: late Edo.

This handsomely illustrated manuscript, written by Tsuki Shirai, describes and illustrates the famous hot springs of Atami (“hot ocean”), which have been known and appreciated since the 8th century. Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), believed the springs of Atami were so beneficial to his health that he had quantities of the water transported to Edo.

These volumes are really a travel guide to Atami and the surrounding area. The first volume begins with an index to all three volumes... More about Manuscript on paper, manuscript labels on upper covers entitled “Atami Onsen zuko” [“The...

1 p.l., 3, [1], [v]-xx, 338 pp. 8vo, attractive antique blue morocco-backed marbled boards (title slightly browned), spine gilt. Paris: Tilliard Frères, Juin 1810.

The uncommon sale catalogue of the library of Fourcroy (1755-1809), the great chemist. The catalogue lists 2781 lots of which about 2000 are works on science and medicine. Many rare chemical books are listed. It is preceded by a biographical note including a bibliography of Fourcroy’s writings and a schedule of the sale. At the end, there is a 68-column index.

According to Peignot, the compiler of the catalogue was François Henri Stanislas de l’Aulnay (1739-1831), the author of... More about Catalogue des Livres de la Bibliothèque de feu M. A.F. de Fourcroy

1 p.l., 109 pp. Small 8vo, attractive modern marbled wrappers. Berlin: 1815.

The very rare sale catalogue — Loh, Vol. 6, p. 102, locates no copy — of the fine scientific library of Meyer (1739-1811), owner of the Hof-Apotheke in Stettin. He studied chemistry in Berlin under J.H. Pott and A.S. Marggraf, and in 1764 he went to Uppsala University, where he studied botany with Linnaeus and possibly chemistry with J.G. Wallerius. In 1780 Meyer founded a distillery in Stettin to produce French-style brandy and liqueurs according to a process that he had developed in his apothecary shop.

This library of 2227 lots was an important collection of botanical, chemical, medical, and pharmaceutical texts, including all the works of “the chemical revolution.” More about Verzeichniss einer beträchtlichen, dem verstorbenen Hofapotheker Herrn Meyer in Stettin ehemals...

163 pp. 8vo, orig. upper printed wrapper (a little defective) bound in attractive modern marbled wrappers. Bremen: J.G. Heyse, 1836.

The rare sale catalogue — no copy in WorldCat — of the libraries of Roth (1757–1834), a highly regarded physician and botanist at Vegesack near Bremen, and Friedrich Ernst Müller (1792-1835), a pastor at Borgfeldt. Roth was an influential botanist who wrote a number of important works, including the “Epochemachendes Werk” (Hirsch) Tentamen Florae Germanicae (1788-1801). His botanical activities came to the attention of Goethe, who recommended Roth to a position at the botanical institute at the University of Jena.

Roth’s library was large (4940 lots) and important, containing many of the early and contemporary grand medical, botanical, and scientific publications. Müller’s library consisted of 814 lots. More about From the upper wrapper]: Verzeichniss einer Bücher-Sammlung aus dem Nachlasse des Herrn...

Fine added engraved title (a little cropped at foot), woodcut plate between pp. 14 & 15 in the first part (T4), & numerous woodcuts in the text (two slightly cropped). 5 p.l. (incl. added engraved title), 112, [16], 121-142, [3], 150-192 pp. Small 4to, cont. calf (a little rubbed), red morocco lettering piece on spine. London: R. Mab, 1634.

First edition and quite uncommon on the market; this is “the first comprehensive illustrated English book on waterworks and hydraulic machinery. It also includes sections on drawing, painting, recipes, and folk remedies, as well as one on fireworks and incendiary devices largely derivative of earlier English and continental works... More about The Mysteryes of Nature, and Art: Conteined in foure severall Tretises, the first of Water Workes...

Text in double columns. Woodcut initials & woodcut device on last page. 124 leaves. Folio, modern binding using old vellum boards with new spine, corners, & endpapers (several small diminishing wormholes in the first few leaves, lower blank corner of title-page damaged & neatly restored). Venice: Giunta, 1521.

Sixth edition (the first five are all incunables) of the Practica or Lilium medicinae, the principal work of one of the medical luminaries of the Middle Ages. Bernard of Gordon (ca. 1258-1318), of Scottish descent but born in France, was a professor at Montpellier from 1283 to 1307. He spent his entire teaching career at Montpellier and... More about Practica Gordonii. Praxis omnibus Medicine studiosis maxime utilis...Medicine lilium nuncupata

Eight folding engraved plates & 2 folding printed tables. Tables in the text. 2 p.l., xxxii, [6], 228 pp.; 6 p.l., 232 pp. Two vols. Small 8vo, cont. green morocco, sides decorated in gilt, spines richly gilt, red morocco lettering pieces on spines, a.e.g. Paris: Durand, 1745.

First edition and a very fine and pretty set of this important work which greatly influenced later evolutionary opinion. Copies in contemporary morocco are rare.

“This pioneering work on experimental entomology incorporates Bonnet’s most important discovery — parthenogenetic reproduction — based on his study of aphids. Bonnet used the result of this and other discoveries as a.... More about Traité d'Insectologie; ou Observations sur les Pucerons

viii, 584 pp. Large 4to, fine antique mottled calf (first three leaves a little foxed), spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: Cailleau, 1785.

First edition of the earliest bibliography on mineral waters and still the most important bibliography on the subject. The book contains upwards of 1000 extensively annotated descriptions of books of all periods and in various languages on balneology, geology, chemistry, etc.

Carrère (1740-1802), a member of a distinguished family of physicians at Perpignan, took his medical degree at Montpellier and became professor of anatomy at his native city. He was also director of the newly established natural... More about Catalogue raisonné des Ouvrages qui ont été publiés sur les Eaux minérales en général, et...

Woodcut title-page, woodcut initials, & printer’s woodcut device on recto of final leaf. 4 p.l., 169 (i.e., 269), [3] pp. Small folio, 17th-cent. vellum over boards (foot of spine a little worn). Venice: V. Valgrisi for N. Bevilacqua, 1559.

First edition, issue with the dedication to Pope Pius IV, of Colombo’s only work, containing his discovery of pulmonary circulation. “This historic breakthrough in his demonstration of the lesser circulation through the lungs secures his place of importance in the line culminating in Harvey’s demonstration of the circulation of the blood sixty-nine years later.”–Heirs of Hippocrates 304.

Colombo was a one-time colleague and friend of Vesalius, whose chair of anatomy and surgery Colombo took over in 1544. He was critical of Vesalius’s illustrations and text of the Fabrica and planned to produce an illustrated anatomy with figures by Michelangelo, but this project was never realized although the two had collaborated on anatomical investigations. Colombo was the first anatomist to criticize Vesalius for errors of anatomy. “In 1559 Colombo published his own unillustrated text, De re anatomica, consisting of fifteen books…Colombo seems to have eschewed the deep Galenic learning shared by other leading contemporary anatomists, but to judge from the De re anatomica he more than compensated for this by his rich experience in dissection, vivisection, autopsy, and the practice of surgery. Quite naturally the Fabrica provided the main framework for his studies, and he made numerous improvements in Vesalius’s descriptions besides reporting a number of new discoveries of his own. The many pathological and anomalous observations he described likewise reflect his wide experience and attention to detail. He also had a strong interest in physiology and seems to have been unsurpassed among his contemporaries in his skill at vivisection… More about De Re Anatomica Libri XV

Woodcut port. of the author on title. 6 p.l., 422 (i.e. 316), [6] pp. 12mo, mid-18th-cent. dark olive morocco (minor & mostly marginal dampstaining), triple gilt fillet round sides with a gilt fleuron in each corner, flat spine gilt, a.e.g. Rouen: J. Besongne, 1603.

First edition and quite uncommon. Duval (ca. 1555-ca. 1615), a local physician and professor of medicine, wrote several other interesting medical books including one on hermaphroditism. In the present work, Duval surveys the springs of Rouen and the nearby surrounding towns. For each spring, the author describes regimens of bathing and drinking the waters, medical benefits for... More about L'Hudrotherapeutique [sic] des Fontaines medicinales, nouvellement découvertes aux environs de...

6 p.l., 182 numbered pages, 4 unnumbered leaves. 4to (216 x 173 mm.), cont. boards, new spine. On page 182: “Munich, 16 March 1818.”

A most interesting and apparently unpublished manuscript on horse diseases, their causes, diagnoses, and cures. The text is divided into ca. 100 paragraphs and is written in a neat German cursive script. Paragraph headings include “Of rages,” “Gland and goiter,” “Injuries to the tongue,” and “Equine epidemic.” Over 200 pharmaceutical recipes are given in Latin with German translations.

Nothing could be ascertained as to the author “Krimm” named on the title page. According to the preface, he seems to have been an experienced veterinary surgeon... More about Manuscript on paper in German entitled on second leaf “Abhandlung von verschiedenartigen...