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an open book with a drawing of a woman holding a babyan old brown leather book with gold trimmings on a white background
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1552 - Medicine – Urology
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Estimate €800 - €1,200
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Description
Medicine – Urology Kern, Vincenz von Bladder stones, associated ailments, and cystotomy in both sexes. With an engraved portrait and 9 old-coloured folded plates in copperplate engraving (8) and lithography. Vienna, self-published, 1828. Folio. 4 leaves, 164 pp. Contemporary leather binding with rich gilding and three-sided gilt edges (slightly rubbed). First and only edition. – Waller 5273 – Wellcome III, 387 – Hirsch-H. III, 507 – Rare deluxe edition on large-format paper (standard edition in 4°) with decorative plates in old colour. - Major work by the eminent Viennese surgeon (1760–1829). At the heart of the book lies a set of surgical statistics that were sensational for the early 19th century (without anaesthesia and without antiseptic instruments): Kern documents in the text that he personally performed the extremely risky lateral lithotomy (a lateral incision of the bladder) a total of 334 times. Of these 334 patients, only 31 died. A mortality rate of under 10 per cent was a world medical record at that time, when wound infections were usually fatal. However, the textbook also served as a practical and anatomical guide for the next generation of doctors. Kern precisely describes the symptoms of bladder stones (calculus) and distinguishes them from ‘related ailments’ (such as cystitis, enlarged prostates or tumours). The book provides a detailed, step-by-step guide to the surgical procedure for both men and women. – Title page discoloured; the last three plates are dusty along the right-hand margin; the penultimate plate has small tears at the edges. Portrait, title page and plates stamped on the reverse; portrait also bears a duplicate stamp on the reverse. Medicine. – Urology. – A rare deluxe edition on large-format paper (standard edition in 4°) with decorative plates in old-style colouring. - The magnum opus of the eminent Viennese surgeon. - The title page is browned; the last three plates are dusty along the right-hand margin; and the penultimate plate has small tears along the margin. The portrait, title page and plates are stamped on the reverse; the portrait is additionally stamped with a ‘duplicate’ stamp on the reverse. 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 lot is subject to standard taxation. 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.
See original version (German)
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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