Instrumenta chyrurgiae et icones anathomicae / [Ambroise Paré].

[Paris] : [publisher not identified], [1564]

205 unnumbered leaves (last 2 blank) ; (8vo 17 cm)

This volume contains 202 wood engravings without text, the majority from the 'Dix livres de chirurgie' published in Paris, 1564: they have been carefully painted by hand in gold, silver, and colours

Copy 1. There are MS. signatures, and on the verso of the first leaf the title of the work as given above. On the second leaf in the same hand is the signature 'N. Rassius Desneus Chyrurgus S. Par'. Binding: late 17th century semi-limp red goatskin with narrow yapps over thin pasteboards, gold tooling with the arms of Nicolas Fouquet (Squirrel rampant) and a crown on the spine. This is typical of a group of bindings from around 1700 produced in imitation of earlier 17th century styles. For more information see Pascal Ract-Madoux and Isabelle de Conihout Reliures françaises du xviie siècle chefs-d'oeuvre du musée condé (Paris, Chantilly, 2002) - see especially no. 44. Bought on 6. 2. 1895, in the Libri Sale at Christie's, by Charles Butler, of Warren Wood, Hatfield, whose book-plate has been pasted inside the cover. Bought for the Wellcome Library at the Sotheby sale of Butler's library, 1. 6. 1911, Lot 1706.

Exhibited in “Corpi Moderni” at Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice, 4 April - 27 July 2025