Lot 333 
333
Andreas Vesalius
De humani corporis. 1555
Estimate:
€ 25,000 / $ 26,750 Sold:
€ 30,000 / $ 32,100 (incl. surcharge)
Cushing VI.A.-3. - Garrison/Morton 377. - Durling 4579. - Wellcome I, 6562. - Choulant, Anatom. Illustration p. 48. - Saunders/O'Malley p. 36. - PMM 71. - Cat. Schäfer, Fünf Jahrh. Buchillustr. 94. - Osler 568: "This work is the first modern treatise on anatomy based upon dissections of the human body ... Vesalius really described the body as we know it, for the first time fully, and for the first time accurately." - Second folio edition. Increased by important details, corrections and in a more lavish typography in comparison with the first edition (Basel 1543). The overall third edition. - "This second edition is typographically a masterpiece and a milestone in the art of printing. The paper is heavier and provided with a watermark ... The new type of letter was an imitation of the beautiful renaissance letter, introduced by Claude Garamont ... Oporinus' sense of typographical beauty is shown by the text area, the full, completely uniform print, the placing of the indicative notes and reference in the margin on both sides an the insertion of smaller figures with their legends." (Lindeboom p. 9) - Vesal's epoch-making work belongs to both the classics in medicine as well as in book art. The absolute highlight is the series of the 14 fullpage musclemen, standing figurines, explaining the muscle system by gradually removing the various layers. They are outfitted with a landscape in the background that can be put together to a 360° panorama, the location has been identified as hills near Abano Terme near Padua. The woodcuts are not only highlights of Venetian woodcutting art, but also set standards in anatomic illustrations and in book illustration in general. - Slightly waterstained in places and minimally foxed (mostly in the margin), upper corner with faint isolated crease mark, 1 l. with small defective corner, 1 folding table with rebacked tear, the other folding table with splits and defective corner, title somewhat thumbed, with few small wormholes and old ownership entry in the margin. All in all fine copy with broad margins (size of sheet 41,5 : 27 cm) and ownership entry of the Frankfurt municipal physician Peter Uffenbach (1566-1635).
Second Folio-edition. "Containing Vesalius's final revisions of the text, this edition is also superior for its enlarged format, improved typography and printing, better paper, larger woodcut initials, and changes to the lettering of the anatomical woodcuts" (Garrison/M.). With large woodcut title, fullpage woodcut portrait, 23 fullpage and ca. 200 smaller woodcuts in text. 18th century half calf on raised bands and with label (restored). - Partly minor waterstaining and minimal foxing (mostly to margins), upper edge here and there with slight creases, 1 leaf with small section to edge, 1 folding table with backed tear, the other table with tears and defective piece to edge (half page backed), title somewhat fingerstained and with few wormholes. In general very fine copy with broad margins (sheet size 41,5 : 27 cm), title with ownership inscription of the Frankfort physician Peter Uffenbach (1566-1635).
333
Andreas Vesalius
De humani corporis. 1555
Estimate:
€ 25,000 / $ 26,750 Sold:
€ 30,000 / $ 32,100 (incl. surcharge)