This attractive scroll begins with three large figures of the human body — front, rear, and side views — with locations of acupuncture points (red dots) and moxibustion locations (black dots). Each of the acupuncture pressure points are labeled in manuscript with their names. The moxibustion points are also labelled but with notes giving their locations. The three images are delicately painted with flesh colors and black hair. The anterior view depicts the 21 bones of the spine. Many of these are numbered with references to specific organs. Again, pressure points are displayed.

These illustrations are derived from the Ling-shu [the “Vital Axis”], a rare collection of dissertations on moxibustion and acupuncture, written in about the second century BCE, which “formed [along with the Su Wen] the theoretical basis of classical Chinese medicine…the Ling-shu…discusses mainly therapy — mostly centered on medicinal prescriptions, but also including physical therapies such as bonesetting and breathing exercises, and stimulation treatments such as acupuncture, moxibustion and massage.”–Sugimoto & Swain, Science & Culture in Traditional Japan, p. 85. More

Mid-Edo period.

An extremely rare survival: an uncommonly tall and large wooden training mannequin, called in Japan do-ningyo (“copper doll,” even those no longer made of bronze), in very good condition. It is most unusual to have such a mannequin of a female; the male figure is usually presented. Certain motifs of the model suggest it was carved in the Chinese or Indian style.

The first examples of similar models originated in 11th-century China, where life-size human acupuncture figures were cast from bronze. “The metal walls of the figures were pierced with small holes corresponding to the principal loci for... More

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

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

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

95, [1] pp. 8vo, cont. vellum over boards (lower portion of spine neatly repaired at an early date, some occasional light browning and foxing as usual with this book). Vienna: J.T. Trattner, 1761.

First edition of the first book to suggest percussion of the chest as a diagnostic measure, “one of the greatest of all medical classics.”–Heirs of Hippocrates 954. “With the introduction of percussion of the chest, which offered a new and dependable method of diagnosing diseases of the heart and lungs in living persons, Leopold Auenbrugger made the first advance in physical diagnosis since the age of Hippocrates. The son... More

viii, 285 pp. 8vo, cont. blue boards (corners & head of spine a bit worn), spine gilt. Paris: P.D. Pierres, 1781.

First edition. “This government ordered study was undertaken to determine whether tin from various sources contains arsenic in large enough amounts to make the use of vessels of tin harmful to health. Bayen and Charlard (Rouelle had been named to work with them but he died before the work began) repeated the experiments of Marggraf and added new ones. Their conclusion was that tin contained no arsenic or only minute harmless traces. In the course of the many experiments the nature... More

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

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

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

Woodcut printer’s device on title. 183, [21] pp., 2 blank leaves. Small 8vo, cont. blind-stamped panelled pigskin over wooden boards (minor rubbing), bevelled edges, orig. catches & clasps. Cologne: J. Gymnich, 1534.

[bound with]:

BRASAVOLA, Antonio Musa. Examen omnium Simplicium medicamentorum, quorum in officinis usus est. Addita sunt insuper Aristotelis Problemata, quae ad stirpium genus, & oleracea pertinent. 12 p.l., 542 (i.e., 544), [15] pp. Small 8vo. Lyons: J. & F. Frellon, 1537. More

Written throughout in a fine neat hand. 14 finely painted color illus., some of which are full-page. 25 folding leaves. 8vo (290 x 200 mm.), orig. stiff blue boards, manuscript title label on upper cover, new stitching. [Japan]: mid-Edo.

A handsomely illustrated manuscript describing about 44 recipes of various medications and liniments using Dutch methods of distillation and other techniques. For each medicine, the anonymous author has provided the name phonetically from the Dutch in katakana, its Chinese/Japanese equivalent in kanji, recipes, and descriptions of the materials used in preparing each drug. Some of the ingredients include honey, lily flowers, worms, poppy seeds, deer... More