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an old book sitting on top of a white surface
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Medicine Wirsung, Christoph A New Book on Medicine. In which almost all the external and internal parts of the human body, together with their diseases and ailments, from the head down to the feet, are described in detail, and how one should treat and cure them in various ways through God’s help and the remedies He has provided for this purpose. (edited by Jacobus Theodorus Tabernaemontanus (1522–1590). Frankfurt am Main, Georg Raben, published by Matthäus Harnisch, 1577. 630 pp., contemporary old German binding, with a round stamp. Metal fittings, 2 clasps. (Spine damaged) VD16 W 3607. – A rare Frankfurt edition of one of the most influential German-language medical handbooks of the second half of the 16th century. The work was authored by the Heidelberg physician, apothecary and councillor Christoph Wirsung and was first published in 1568. It owed its wide-reaching influence not least to the combination of scholarly medicine with a clear, vernacular style of presentation and practical therapeutic instructions. This 1577 edition was carefully reviewed by the Heidelberg physician and botanist Jacobus Theodorus Tabernaemontanus, organised into a systematic order and supplemented with two indexes. The title expressly highlights this editorial achievement: Tabernaemontanus is said to have ‘diligently reviewed’ the text, provided it with indexes and put it into print ‘in a new edition’. Content: This encyclopaedic pharmacopoeia deals with diseases and ailments affecting all external and internal parts of the body ‘from the head to the feet’, thus following the traditional arrangement in pre-modern medicine, a capite ad calcem – from the head to the soles of the feet. The focus is on diagnosis, aetiology and therapeutic methods, in particular medicines, dietetics and specific prescriptions. The book is not aimed exclusively at academically trained physicians. Its use of the German language and its practical, application-oriented structure also made it accessible to surgeons, apothecaries, midwives and educated laypeople. The later English translation explicitly described the work as useful for ‘physicians, surgeons, apothecaries, and midwives’ as well as for other professions. – Text missing from the last two pages, fold split, rare. Medicine. – Wirsung, a physician, apothecary and councillor in Heidelberg, first published the work in 1568. Its wide-reaching impact was due in no small part to its combination of scholarly medical knowledge with a clear, vernacular style of presentation and practically applicable therapeutic instructions. The present 1577 edition was carefully revised by the Heidelberg physician and botanist Jacobus Theodorus Tabernaemontanus, systematically organised, and supplemented with two indexes. The title page expressly emphasises this editorial achievement, stating that Tabernaemontanus had ‘fleissig vbersehen’ (carefully reviewed) the text, provided it with indexes, and republished it ‘auff ein newes’ (in a new edition). Contents Wirsung’s encyclopaedic medical manual discusses diseases and ailments affecting every external and internal part of the human body, “von dem Haupt an biß zu den Füssen” (“from the head down to the feet”). It thus follows the traditional a capite ad calcem arrangement of pre-modern medicine—from head to foot. Its principal concerns are diagnosis, the theory of causes, and methods of treatment, particularly remedies, dietetics, and specific prescriptions. The book was not intended solely for university-trained physicians. Its German language and practical focus made it accessible to barber-surgeons, apothecaries, midwives and educated lay readers as well. The later English translation explicitly described the work as useful for “physicians, surgeons, apothecaries, and midwives”, as well as for other social groups. Text loss on the final two leaves; inner hinge starting to come apart. Rare This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium is payable on the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) is payable on the final invoice amount within the European Union. This work is subject to the standard VAT regime. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
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Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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