Folio (32.5 x 22.5 cm), [12], 510, [46] pp, woodcuts on most pages., Leaf 2d5 (p321) contains figures to be cut out and superimposed on the illustration on 2d3; it is left intact in this copy. Very few spotting in some margins and some pag. with light water in margins. Contemporary (1592) blindtooled pigskin with two claps (some cras. and prof. repaired back cover. Very good copy
THE MOST IMPORTANT ANATOMICAL WORK EVER PUBLISHED. Vesalius is widely considered to be the founder of the modern science of anatomy and De humani corporis the most beautiful medical book ever published. First published in 1543, it combined scientific theory, art and typography in a unprecedented manner, overturning in the process many of the theories and practices of the day. ""Galen was not merely improved upon: he was superseded; and the history of anatomy is divided into two periods, pre-Vesalian and post-Vesalian"" (Printing and the Mind of Man). It is not altogether surprising that Pope Alexander, with his love of literature, philosophy, art and architecture, should possess a copy of Vesalius, as the theory that dissection was prohibited by the Catholic Church is now thought to have been exaggerated. The illustrations in this third folio edition are reduced copies of those which appeared in the first edition. ""The copying was done from the Oporin edition of 1555 and includes eight additions made in 1555. The Basel woodcuts are attributed to Jan Stephan van Calcar, a pupil of Titian. Franceschi states in his dedication to Antonio Montecatini that Giovanni Chrieger cut these Venice copies"" (Mortimer) Ref. B.B. V:697 V-84. - Cushing VI.A.-4. - Choulant 182. - Cockx-Indestege, Belgian census 34 (4). - Durling 4580. - Adams V-606. - Machiels V-228. - STC Italian (BL) 722
