German Medical Compendium, early 17th century

'Aller Kunde undt Auserlehsene Arzney zu allerley schaeden nützlich zu begrauche geschriben durch Mich. Johann Liutlein Sattelknecht zu Annalsbach 1614': medical compendium containing recipes and directions relating to a range of conditions and illnesses, with a particular focus on gynaecology, obstetrics and childhood complaints, but also other diseases such as plague, smallpox and rabies. With three drawings illustrating gynaecological instruments (ff. 56, 60 and 70), the first of which apparently shows a device for procuring an abortion.

The text is in a single hand (presumably Sattelknecht's), apart from two later (?18th century) recipes on ff.164v-165.

1614

1 volume 1 volume: 195 x 170 mm., i + 173 ff. (166-173 blank). Ff.2 and 3 have been rebound in reverse order. In brown ink with several headings in red and green and rubrication to highlight sections of text throughout. Title page decorated in pink. Modern, white vellum covered boards. Watermark visible on front and rear pastedowns.

Purchased from W. S. Cotter Rare Books, Austin, Texas, August 2013.

It has not been possible to identify Sattelknecht, but his home town, 'Annalsbach', is presumably Ansbach, near Nuremberg.

Contents (f. 165v) in the hand of Benedict Raidl [1857-1930, publisher], dated 1900; ownership stamp on verso of title page: 'Ludwig-Peter Freiherr von Polnitz'. Zisska & Schauer, Munich, auction 61, 6-7 May, 2013, lot 12.