Organisation et Physiologie de l'Homme: expliquées à l'aide de figures coloriées découpées et superposées

Very good copy of the 6th edition (first published in 1842) of this popular French guidebook to anatomy

Complete with all 10 handcoloured plates engraved by Lemaitre

The organisation and physiology of man, explained using coloured cut-out and superimposed figures

Seven plates of anatomy (four with multi-layer pop-up illustrations of human internal organs), one plate of dangerous animals and insects, and two plates of edible and poisonous mushrooms

The anatomy plates are quite realistic and allow the reader to perform a virtual autopsy on the paper figures, peeling back layers of entrails to reveal the vital organs beneath.

Text in French

Achille Comte (1802-1866) was a French doctor, zoologist, physiologist and professor of natural history. Trained as a doctor at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris and a founding member of the Anatomical Society of Paris, he later switched to natural history and education. His books include Keepsake d'Histoire Naturelle 1838, Regne Animal 1840, Traite complet d'Histoire Naturelle 1849, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle 1854, etc. His popular books on anatomy were reissued under various titles from 1842 to 1885 and reprinted many times.

Bound in half green buckram, raised bands on spine with gilt title, green marble boards rubbed, marble endpapers, sporadic spotting to text. Plates in good condition with delicate colour and all moving parts, under spotted tissue guards that have protected the illustrations from foxing.

A very good copy of a fascinating 19th century pop-up anatomy book