Vasorum Lymphaticorum Corporis Humani Historia et Ichonographia by MASCAGNI, Paolo - 1787

Siena: Pazzini Carli, 1787 Book. Fine. Hardcover. 1st Edition. Imperial folio. Imperial folio (555x400 mm), [4], 138 pp., engraved allegorical title vignette, engraved dedication leaf within border and 41 plates, of which 14 are accompanying duplicate outline key plates, title a little soiled at margins with library stamps to foot, mounted on stub, light finger-soiling to plate margins, final outline plate enhanced at guard and with paper repair at lower corner. Modern quarter calf over marbled boards, spine with 5 raised bands and gilt morocco label. A fine copy, printed on strong paper, the stunning plates in fine (unstamped) condition. ----

Wellcome IV, 73; Norman 1450; Heirs of Hippocrates 1099; Choulant-Frank 315-316; Garrison-Morton 1104; Waller 6295. - FIRST EDITION. Mascagni was appointed professor of anatomy at the University of Siena at the age of 22; in 1784 he submitted to the Academie des Sciences in Paris his Prodrome d'un ouvrage sur le systeme des vaissaux limphatiques. This was followed by the present work, a magnificent production, which gained him lasting fame and paved the way for progress in anatomy, physiology and clinical medicine, since half of the lymphatic vessels now known were discovered by him. His extremely detailed discoveries of naked-eye anatomical distribution of the lymphatics could only be described through illustrations. For this purpose Mascagni hired Ciro Santi, a painter and engraver from Bologna who lived in Sienna until about 1780. Santi prepared 27 drawings and engraved 27 spectacular copperplates and 16 key plates. These depict vessels in some of the finest detail present in anatomical illustration before the advent of photography..