Theatrum Anatomicum Novis figuris aeneis illustratum et in lucem emissum opera et sumptibus Theodori de Bry p. m. relicta viduae et filiorum Ioannis Theodori & Ioannis Israelis de Bry / Appendix ad Theatrum Anatomicum . . . sive explicatio characterum omnium, qui figuris totius operis addita fuere. .

Frankfurt am Main: Mathias Becker for Th. de Bry, 1605. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. 1st Edition. Hardcover. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. 8vo (c. 185 x 120 mm, the second vol. slightly smaller). Vol. I: [16], 1070, 1069-1099, 1110-1314 (i.e. 1306) pp.; engraved title-page with author's portrait on verso, engraved armorial device on verso of following leaf, 129 full-page text illustrations, final two leaves blank. Signatures: )(8 A-4N8. Bound in contemporary full calf, spine rebacked, gilt-ruling and central gilt vignette to boards, red-sprinkled edges, later endpapers (minor wear to extremities, leather cratched). Somewhat browned throughout, occasional minor spotting, the plate explantion pages mostly with coptious ink annotations (showing through to leaf verso). A few thin wormtracks within text area of final 6 gatherings (not impairing readability). Vol. II: [56], 197 [1] pp. including blank leaf ***8. Title within engraved compartment; engraved portrait of the author (dated 1605) on verso, woodcut vignette on final leaf verso. Signatures: )(4 *-3*8 a-m8 n4. Bound in contemporary half calf over vellum coated boards, spine with 4 raised bands, gilt in compartments and with gilt-lettered leather label, black-sprinkled edges, original endpapers (gilt mostly rubbed off, head of spine chipped, extremities and spine rubbed, corners bumped, boards slightly bowed, vellum soiled and stained). Text browned throughout, occasional small marginal dampstains, two small wormholes to first two leaves including title. Provenanve: Bibliotheca Colleg: anatom. Chirurgio Brunsvicensis (oval ink stamps on title verso and final leaf verso, a further deaccession stamp on title verso); illegible ownership inscription on title; large armorial bookplate on front pastedown (rubbed and illegible); Bartholin Riolanus Valesig (insribed on leaf )(4v. A disparately bound but in all very good set of a very rare work. ----

FIRST EDITION of one of the best anatomical textbooks of the period. The work collects all of Bauhin's earlier works in one enlarged and revised text with illustrations based on Vasalius, Valverde, Eustachius, Coiter, and others. "In 1605, all [of Bauhin's] anatomical writings were brought together, revised and enlarged and published in Bauhin's most celebrated anatomical textbook, 'Theatrum anatomicum,' which was accompanied by copper engravings based on the drawings of Vesalius and entitled 'Vivae imagines partium corporis.' The 'Theatrum anatomicum' soon acquired the reputation of being the best anatomical textbook available. It was systematic, gave adequate consideration to the ancient authorities, did not go into too much detail over the controversies, had a series of eminently useful footnotes, and mentioned anatomical anomalies and pathological findings. Its illustrations, although poor in comparison with those of Vesalius, were adequate for anyone using the book to accompany an actual dissection. It was this work that William Harvey chose as the basis for his Lumleian Lectures to the College of Physicians in London in 1616" (J. Bylebyl in DSB VI, p 151).
Bauhin (1560-1624) was born at Basel and studied medicine at Padua, Montpellier, and Tübingen (under the botanist Leonhard Fuchs). On his return to Basel in 1580, he was admitted to the degree of doctor, and gave private lectures in botany and anatomy. In 1582 he was appointed to the Greek professorship in that university, and in 1588 to the chair of anatomy and botany. He was later made city physician, professor of the practice of medicine, rector of the university, and dean of his faculty. His anatomical publications drew criticism from the followers of Galen, as did his work on human anatomical nomenclature, particularly of the muscles, but his system was adopted by subsequent anatomists. This work has fine dissection plates in greater number than his earlier books (Garrison-Morton). Page 175, intended for Plate XX of Book 1 curiously left unprinted, perhaps a prudish expurgation of a depiction of the male reproductive system.
References: Heirs of Hippocrates 392; NLM/Krivatsy 948; Waller 784; Wellcome I, 724; Garrison-Morton 379; Choulant-Frank 229; VD17 12:169626K. For the Appendix: According to VD17, this work was issued in 1605 as an appendix to the Theatrum anatomicum also indicated by the portrait of the author which is dated 1605 in the plate. Visit our website for further reading and images!