Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 667

GOVARD BIDLOO (1649-1713) Anatomia humani corporis. Sumptibus viduae Joannis à Someren, haeredum Joannis à Dyk, Henrici & viduae Theodori Boom 1685 [136] pp., front. (port.), 105 plates. 52.4 cm.

Bidloo, professor of anatomy at The Hague, was at one time physician to William of Orange. An English contemporary, William Cowper, furnished his Anatomy of humane bodies (see No. 724) almost completely with engravings plagiarized from this book by Bidloo, who promptly and publicly excoriated Cowper in a published communication to the Royal Society. Before the days of copyright, this is one of the most famous instances of plagiarism in the history of medicine. This large folio contains not only 105 beautiful anatomical copperplates, but also a fine engraved portrait of the author. These plates are considered among the finest illustrations of the Baroque period, and the impressions in this copy are clean and bright, on heavy, well-preserved paper.

See Related Record(s): 724

Cited references: Cushing B376; Garrison-Morton 388; Wellcome II, p. 165

Gift of John Martin, M.D.