Rare books from Biomed Rare Books

Paris: Louis Duprat-Duverger, 1813. New edition. 1813 ATLAS OF THE ANATOMY OF THE BRAIN BY FELIX VICQ-D'AZYR, "THE GREATEST COMPARATIVE ANATOMIST OF THE 18TH CENTURY." 10 1/2 inches tall hardcover, brown paper covered boards, recent black cloth spine with gilt leather label, decorative bookplate to front paste-down of Charles Atwood Kofoid; title page, frontispiece allegorical engraving depicting Anatomy revealing Medicine and Art by Girodet (after Alexandre Briceau), engraved by Robert De Launay, 35 copper plate engravings of the human brain (8 folding), 4 plates of comparative anatomy each containing multiple images. Covers soiled, light browning to page edges, scattered light foxing, fine plate impressions, very good. FELIX VICQ-D'AZYR (1748-1794) was a French physician and anatomist, the originator of comparative anatomy and discoverer of the theory of homology in biology. He graduated in medicine at the University of Paris and became a renowned and brilliant animal and human anatomist and… Read More

Taipei, Taiwan: Newmoon Book Co., Ltd., 1956 - 1965. Reprint. SIGNED PRESENTATION COPY OF FIRST 5 VOLUMES OF JOSEPH NEEDHAM'S MONUMENTAL HISTORY OF SCIENCE IN CHINA: HONG KONG, TAIWAN CONNECTIONSFive hardcover volumes, 9 3/4 inches tall small quarto, beige cloth boards, spine lettering in red, endpapers discolored, otherwise very good in very good dust jackets. VOL. I. Introductory Orientations. Joseph Needham, with the research assistance of Wang Ling (reprinted 1961; Cambridge 1954). xxxviii, 318 pp, tables, bibliographies, figures, 2 large folding maps. Inscribed and signed on title page, "for Franklin Woo and Marcus Woo/Hongkong Mar 74/Joseph Needham" with author's signature in English and Chinese. Also handstamped date, 1 May 1974, lower right corner of title page. Same date stamp right upper corner of rear endpaper, with address to left of date: "Bishop's House/Hong Kong/May 1, 1974". Rear endpaper, flyleaf and paste-down filled with notes in blue and red ink, presumably by Woo; VOL. II. History… Read More

Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1974, 1975. First edition. 1974 SIGNED PRESENTATION COPY OF NOBEL LAUREATE ROBERT FOGEL'S HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL TIME ON THE CROSS AND CONTEMPORARY REVIEWS OF ITS FALLOUT EXPLAINING SLAVERY IN AMERICA. 1) Robert William Fogel & Stanley L. Engerman. Time on the Cross: two 8 1/2 inches tall hardcover volumes, brown cloth binding, gilt title to spines, Vol. I, inscribed on front flyleaf, "To Simon Kuznets: These volumes are given with continuing admiration from a steadfast disciple/ affectionately, Bob Fogel/ Cambridge April 20, 1974." xviii, 286 pp; Vol. II ("A Supplement"), xi, 267. Near fine with very good dust jackets (a few small closed edge tears). 2) Reviews of Time on the Cross: 9 1/2 inches tall hardcover, brown faux leather binding, spine gilt with title and John P Frank bottom of spine, containing two long reviews extracted from contemporary journals with issue covers bound in, each signed R W Fogel on title page: Paul A. David & Peter Temin. Slavery: The Progressive… Read More

London: B. Fellowes, 1830. First edition. FIRST EDITION OF SCATHING DIATRIBE AGAINST THE ROYAL SOCIETY BY ENGLISH ORIGINATOR OF THE CONCEPT OF THE DIGITAL COMPUTER--COPY OF PROMINENT JOURNALIST OF THE PERIOD. 8 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches hardcover, 3/4 brown calf with marbled cloth boards, spine with raised bands, gilt, with red leather label gilt, marbled edges and endpapers, bookplate to front paste-down, ink signature of George Augustus Sala on paper affixed to front free endpaper, xvi,+ 228,+ (4). Cover edges worn, scattered foxing, binding tight, very good. CHARLES BABBAGE (1792-1871) was an English polymath, mathematician, philosopher, inventor and originator of the concept of a digital programmable computer. In The Exposition of 1851, or Views of the Industry, the Science and the Government of England (1851) he pointed out the shortcomings of the British educational system. His Reflections on the Decline of Science and some of its Causes (offered here) aimed to improve British science, and more… Read More

Paris: J. B. Bailliere, 1831. First edition. DISSERTATION ON MEDICAL PRACTICE, NOSOLOGY, AND EDUCATION BY PROMINENT FRENCH PHYSICIAN, INSCRIBED TO HIS MENTOR, WHOSE AUTOGRAPH CRITIQUE IS INCLUDED, COPY OF PREMIER MEDICAL PUBLISHER, JB BAILLIERE - PLUS LITHOGRAPH OF BOUILLAUD8 inches tall hardcover, period red cloth binding, blindstamped covers, gilt title to spine, 83 pp, signed association copy. Front paste-down: Ink inscription (presumably by J.-B. Bailliere): "Ce volume contient: 1) Jugement de Bouillaud par M. Ph. J. Roux; 2) Dedicace a Broussais; 3) Jugement de Broussais, comme juge du concours ou M. Bouillaud a été nomme Professeur; 4) Jugement de M. A. Donne sur les travaux de M. Bouillaud" ["This volume contains: 1) Judgment of Bouillaud by M. Ph. J. Roux; 2) Dedication to Broussais; 3) Judgment of Broussais, as judge of the competition where Mr. Bouillaud was appointed Professor; 4) Judgment of MA Donne on the work of M. Bouillaud"]; Book-label of J.-B. Bailliere. Verso front free… Read More

Paris: Panckoucke, 1788. First edition. 1788 ATLAS OF FISH WITH 102 FINE COPPER PLATE ENGRAVINGS BY FRENCH PRIEST-NATURALIST WHO DESCRIBED 25 NEW SPECIES OF FISH AND THE FIRST TO STUDY THE WILD CHILD OF AVEYRON. Two hardcover volumes 12 3/4 inches tall, recent green cloth covered boards with leather spines and gilt titles, new endpapers, bookplate of Robert L. Chevalier to front paste-down, pages uncut, Vol. I, lvi, 215 pp; Vol. II, 102 copper plate engravings numbered A, B, and 1 - 100. Bindings fine, Vol. I with light foxing to first pages, wormholes top corner of 5 leaves (pages 1-10) not affecting text; Vol. II with light browning/foxing to margins of plates engraved by Robert Benard. Overall very good. ABBE PIERRE JOSEPH PONNATERRE (1752-1804) was a French naturalist who contributed sections on cetaceans, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects to the Tableau Encyclopédique et Méthodique. Bonnaterre is credited with identifying about 25 new species of fish, and assembled… Read More

London: John Van Voorst, 1847. First edition. 1847 MAGNIFICENT BIOLOGY OF MARINE LIFE OF SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED WITH OVER 100 FINE HAND-COLORED ENGRAVINGS AFTER PAINTINGS BY NOTED LOCAL ARTISTS. Two 11 inches tall hardcover volumes, recent 3/4 calf, spine with raised bands and gilt leather title labels, green moire cloth covered boards, bookplate of Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow front paste-down, handstamp of Aquatic Research Institute to front free endpaper. Vol. I, xii, 270 pp, 53 colored engraved plates; Vol. II, [iv], 322 pp, [2], 56 colored engraved plates with tissue guards. Small abrasions to edges of spine and tips of corners, old faint dampstain to lower corner of pages, touching only 1 image; occasional minor foxing; marginal browning & light chipping to endpapers, titles & last 2 leaves, overall very good in custom archival mylar covers. Cole Pt. 2, p. 74; BMNH p. 417; Nissen ZBI 1031. SIR JOHN GRAHAM DALYELL (1775-1851) was a Scottish antiquary and naturalist. When an infant he fell… Read More

New York: Columbia University Press, Macmillan and Co., 1895. First edition.
1895 FOLIO ATLAS OF FIRST PUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHROMOSOMAL DIVISION BY LEADING AMERICAN CELL BIOLOGIST.
11x13 inch folio hardcover, dark blue cloth binding, gilt title, "Columbia University Biological Series" to cover, gilt title to spine, back cover blindstamped with Macmillan colophon, bookplate of University of London Library and "withdrawn" handstamp to front paste-down--no other marks. Wear to cover corners, text and plates clean and bright: very good in custom archival mylar cover. FROM THE PREFACE: "It is the object of this work to place before teachers and students of biology a series of figures, photographed directly from nature, to illustrate some of the principal phenomena in the fertilization and early development of the animal ovum. In no branch of biological inquiry has knowledge advanced of late with such rapid strides as in the new science of cytology, which deals with the internal phenomena of cell-life.… Read More

Toulouse: Jean-Jacques Robert, 1775. New edition.
MAGNIFICENT 18TH CENTURY EDITION OF VIEUSSENS' CELEBRATED ATLAS OF NEUROANATOMY WITH LARGE FOLDING ENGRAVED PLATES.
20 x 26 cm quarto hardcover, contemporary marbled paper covered boards, vellum tips to corners, leather spine with gilt black leather title label, gilt compartments, xv, 217, [3], 30 plates, 19 of which are folding, 2 extending to 112 cm with multiple mounted leaves. Plate VII inscribed, "J.D. Coulet sculpsit a Toulouse les 30 planches," Plate IX: "J.D. Coulet Parisiens sculpsit." The plates are remarkably bold impressions on heavy paper. Covers clean with light wear, abrasion to leather of top spine compartment, light foxing to endpapers. Binding tight, text pages and plates are crisp and unmarked, a small ink hole in text leaves 119/120 and 127/128, browning to some page edges, water stain top corner of last pages. Overall very good in custom archival mylar cover.
RAYMOND VIEUSSENS (ca. 1635 – 1715) was a French anatomist from Le… Read More

London: The Royal Society, Printed for John Clarke at the Bible and Crown in the Old Change, near St. Austin's Church, 1701. First English edition, second issue.
1701 EARLY ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF FRENCH COMPARATIVE ANATOMY BEAUTIFULLY BOUND WITH A STUDY OF MEASURE OF THE EARTH ILLUSTRATED WITH 40 SUPERB COPPER PLATE ENGRAVINGS.
Folio (30.5 x 20 cm), full leather paneled binding with blind fillets, spine with raised bands decorative gilt panels, and gilt red leather title label. Engraved title "Englished by A. P. SRS" (Alexander Pifield), dated 1687, signed R Waller fec. (Richard Waller); title page in red and black dated 1701, [xvi], 3-267, 30 plates, [2] table of animals, [11] index; 5 plates; 40. Bookplate of Robert L. Chevalier to front paste-down and engraved armorial bookplate of William Gosselin to verso title page. Very good in very good binding.
CLAUDE PERRAULT (1613 – 1688) was a French physician and an amateur architect, best known for his participation in the design of the east façade… Read More

London: A. Linde, 1755. First English.
1755 FOLIO NORWEGIAN BISHOP'S ACCOUNT OF NATURAL HISTORY, INCLUDING SEA SERPENTS AND MERMAIDS, WITH LARGE MAP AND MAGNIFICENT ENGRAVED PLATES.
14 1/2 inches tall folio, original full leather binding, rebacked with leather spine, raised bands and gilt red leather labels, new endpapers. Bookplate of Robert L. Chevalier to front paste-down, i-xxiii, [1], large folding engraved map of the Kingdom of Norway, Part I, 206 pp with 14 plates; Part II, 291 pp with 14 plates, [12]. Wear to heavy covers, corners worn, recent spine fine and bright, binding tight, handstamp to title page, small wormhole top inner margin in Part I, not affecting text or plates that are clean and unmarked. Very good minus. ALSO INCLUDED: Extract from 19th century journal review of The Natural History of Norway in clear polyethyline binder.
ERIK LUDVIGSEN PONTOPPIDAN (1698 – 1764) was a Danish author, a Lutheran bishop of the Church of Norway, an historian, and an antiquarian. Pontoppidan… Read More

Springfield: Charles C. Thomas, 1950. First edition.
FIRST EDITION OF FOUNDATIONAL TEXTBOOK ESTABLISHING THE DISCIPLINE OF PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY--SIGNED PRESENTATION COPY TO AN EARLY TRAINEE AND COLLEAGUE.
21x28 cm hardcover, blue cloth binding, inscribed and signed on front endpaper, "To my friend and coworker Robert Klein from Lawson Wilkins," i-xx, 385 pp, [1]. Wear to corners and spine ends, binding weak at first 2 signatures, browning to page edges and front endpapers. Good+ in very good minus dust jacket with edges chipped, in protective mylar sleeve.
LAWSON WILKINS (1894-1963) "was a pioneering pediatric endocrinologist. After serving in World War I and graduating from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, he completed his pediatric residency at Yale and then returned to Baltimore to practice general pediatrics. However, he quickly distinguished himself from other practitioners by his insatiable curiosity and careful attention to measurable physical parameters and the information they provided… Read More

1945. First edition.
ONE OF 100 PUBLICATIONS FAMOUS IN ALL MEDICINE: THE DAWN OF SURGICAL CORRECTION OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE--BLALOCK & TAUSSIG, 1945, together with RESULTS OF THE OPERATION IN 1000 CASES--TAUSSIG, 1951.
1) 14x21.5 cm offprint, reprinted from the Journal of the American Medical Association, May 19, 1945. Vol. 128, pp. 189-202, wrapped in blue printed paper covers, stapled binding, text reimposed in single-column pages, with different page breaks, 44 pp, 7 halftone and 5 line-block illustrations in text; browning to cover edges, small ind signature "Scott" top of cover--no other marks, very good. TOGETHER WITH 2) 15x22.5 cm offprint, Helen B. Taussig, Results of operation for pulmonary stenosis and atresia (Report of 1000 cases)reprinted from the Transactions of the Association of American Physicians, Vol. lxiv, pp 67-73, 1951, stapled binding without wraps, near-fine.
ALFRED BLALOCK (1899 - 1964) earned his MD at Johns Hopkins University in 1922 and completed residency at… Read More

London: Constable and Co. Ltd., 1921. First edition.
PRESENTATION COPY OF GB SHAW'S COLLECTION OF 5 PLAYS REFLECTING ON DARWINIAN EVOLUTION, INSCRIBED TO COMPOSER MARGARET LANG.
12x18 cm 3/4 morocco with gilt rulings and salmon cloth covered boards, spine with raised bands, gilt compartments and gilt title, marbled endpapers, handstamp of Baynton Binder, Bath, top of verso of front free endpaper. i-lxxxix, 267 pp. Inscribed and signed on half title by author to Margaret Lang dated 16 June 1921. Near fine in custom archival mylar cover. Back to Methuselah (A Metabiological Pentateuch) by George Bernard Shaw consists of a preface (The Infidel Half Century) and a series of five plays: In the Beginning: B.C. 4004 (In the Garden of Eden), The Gospel of the Brothers Barnabas: Present Day, The Thing Happens: A.D. 2170, Tragedy of an Elderly Gentleman: A.D. 3000, and As Far as Thought Can Reach: A.D. 31,920. All were written during 1918 to 1920 and published simultaneously by Constable (London) and… Read More

London: John Murray, 1823. First edition.
ILLUSTRATED WITH 27 PLATES, THE DISCOVERY OF PREHISTORIC ANIMAL FOSSILS IN EUROPE INCLUDES A 26,000 YEAR-OLD HUMAN SKELETON.
11 inches tall hardcover, 3/4 leather binding, rebacked, retaining original tooled spine with gilt black label, new marbled paper covering boards, marbled edges, marbled endpapers, contemporary signature, Rev. W. T. Collins to front free endpaper, i-vii, errata, folding table, 303 pp, 27 lithographed plates, 3 hand colored, 1 folding. Light foxing to endpapers, otherwise very good in custom archival mylar cover. Described by SJ Gould in "The Freezing of Noah" in The Flamingo's Smile, 1985, pp 114-125.
WILLIAM BUCKLAND (1784–1856) was an English theologian who became Dean of Westminster. He was also a geologist and palaeontologist. Buckland wrote the first full account of a fossil dinosaur, which he named Megalosaurus. His work proved that Kirkdale Cave in North Yorkshire had been a prehistoric hyena den, for which he was awarded the… Read More