Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 285

ANDREAS VESALIUS (1514-1564) Anatomia. Apud Joannem Antonium et Jacobum de Franciscis [1604] [4th folio ed.]. [6] 510 [45] [19] pp., illus. 31.1 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 280

This fourth folio edition of the Fabrica shows considerable loss of identity with the 1543 original. The title has changed and some new plates were added by Criegher, the artist, but the text is essentially unchanged. This edition, published by the sons of the publisher of the third folio edition of 1568, was a purely business adventure, and a successful one. The book was widely distributed and is said to have been the text used by the anatomist Fabricius ab Aquapendente. The over-all tone of the book is sadly cheapened; yet even in this plagiarized, "commercialized" form it is a beautiful book and better done than many anatomy texts which succeeded it. The original Calcar wood blocks were never used in their entirety other than for the authorized first two editions.

Cited references: Choulant-Frank, pp. 182-183; Cushing V80; Cushing Vesalius VI.A.-5; Osler 570; Waller 9903; Wellcome 6563

Gift of John Martin, M.D.