Sales catalogue 12: R. Lier & Co.

Date:
1929
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/40/8
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue 12: R. Lier & Co. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    83/124 page 77
    the title-page representing a nan with dissected thoracic and abdo- minal cavities, surrounded by twelve medaillons with the signs of the zodiac, same figure repeated on recto of last leaf. 4to. Modern half vellum. Strassburg, Martin Flach, 1513. Frs. 500.— Choulant-Frank p. 94-95. ““ The work of Mondino is a landmark in the history of anatomy. It is the first modern book on the subject. Mondino was born about 1275 at Bologna. We know that he syste- matically lectured on anatomy, that he dissected the human body a num- ber of times, and that he was accustomed to make preparations showing the ligaments and bones ’’, (Singer, Fasciculo di medicina 1493, with full translation of the ‘‘ Anatomia ’’ into English, R. Lier & Cie, 1928). ‘¢ Mondino’s scheme of dissection begins with the abdominal cavity, as containing the perishable viscera. In the section he incidentally de- scribes abdominal paracentesis, radical cure of hernia and lithotomy, and gives the differential diagnosis between renal and intestinal colic. Here occurs the paragraph, historically so important, wherein Mondino men- tions his post-mortems on two female cadavers. Immediately after this he gives an account of the womb of a pregnant sow dissected by him. He next passes to the chest and neck, giving a lengthy description of the heart, and concludes with the opening of the skull ’’ (Neuburger). The most interesting feature of our edition is the woodcut which here appears twice (usually only once). ‘‘ A woodcut representing a man with dissected thoracic and abdominal cavities and a narrow band over his genitals tied at his left hip, is in some copies of this edition on the title-page, in others below the colophon, and in others at both places. Surrounding the man are twelve medaillons with the signs of the zodiac from which lines are drawn to the organs of the body ruled by them. There is no lettering either on or around the plates. This illustration appeared also as a fugitive anatomic plate with German verses printed all round the plate ’’ (Neuburger). Confer also Singer, Fasciculo, Part I, p. 17 with reproduction of our figure (fig. 77). ‘¢The editor Adelphus gave an Additio to some passages in the text. One of these (folio F iiii verso) is accompanied by a small woodcut printed in the text with reversed letters, and representing the heart, particularly the Ventriculus medius which was thought to be between the two halves of the heart, and the orifices of the coronary vessels. The cut does not belong to Mondinus’ text ’’? (Neuburger). ‘¢'The Strassburg 1513 edition contains a diagram of the heart, the first of its kind in a printed work interesting as showing the middle ven- tricle ’’? (Singer, fig. 59). Some leaves slightly browned. A couple of tiny wormholes. Other- wise an exceptionally fine copy with extremely wide, nearly uncut margins. Copies in that fine state are of particular rarity. — See re- production p. 76. 203. (MUNDINUS). Curtius, (Corti), Matthaeus. In Mundini anatomen explicatio. 4 leaves, 400 pp. With printer’s device. 8vo. Original vellum. Pavia, Fr. Moschenus and G. B. Niger, 1550. Frs. 225.— - First edition of this commentary. ‘“‘ Pavia 1550. Text with commen- tary of Matthaeus Curtius. Very valuable for the care and skill with wich the text has been prepared. From the point of view of textual Prices in Swiss Francs
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