Thierry de Héry - La Methode curatoire de la maladie Venerienne - 1552

First RARE Edition of the first book in French on syphilis. When the syphilis epidemic spread across 16th-century Europe, the treatment of the disease became one of the most profitable forms of medical practice. De Héry made his fortune treating syphilis patients with injections of mercury and guaiaco.

HÉRY, Thierry de (1500-1599). The curative method for venereal disease, commonly called the great smallpox, and the variety of its symptoms. Paris: Matthieu David and Arnoul l'Angelier, 1552. Pages (16), 240, (29), (21 manuscript pages); pages 241-272 are missing, replaced at the end by contemporary manuscript pages (see photo). Therefore, the complete book has the last pages (241-272) as manuscript pages. Some numbering errors. Copy with a charming binding.

Original edition of the first book in French dedicated to syphilis. Childhood friend of Ambroise Paré. When Francesco I waged war on Italy, Héry followed the French army. After the Battle of Pavia, he went to Rome and mainly focused on treating venereal diseases using the method of mercurial friction. This method, invented by Bérenger de Carpi, was little known in France. But Héry managed to naturalize it in his country and skillfully exploited this situation, which earned him immense reputation and colossal fortune. The story recounts that, upon visiting the church of Saint-Denis, he first asked to see the tomb of Charles VIII, before pausing in front of it in somber silence, then knelt down, telling those around him that he was not invoking the prince but was praying to God for the salvation of his soul, because he had brought a disease to France that filled him with riches.

Sold by Christies for €5,875 and listed online for €6,500.

The photos are an integral part of the description.