[VESALIUS, Andreas] LEVELING, Heinrich Palmaz - Anatomsche Erklarung der Original Figuren von Andrea Vesal[ius] - 1783

Anatomsche Erklarung der Original Figuren von Andrea Vesal, samt einer Anwendung der Winslowischen Zergliederungslehre in sieben Büchern.

INGOLSTADT: zu finden bey Anton Attenkhover, 1783. Collation, Woodcut frontispiece (from 1843 Fabrica), title, 7 leaves, 328pp, 2 leaves, 3 leaves (subscribers). With striking woodcuts througout.

A fine copy on large untrimmed paper. The volume measures 47 x 31 cm.

This is the second issue of the last edition to use the original woodblocks of the Fabrica and Epitome (1543) prior to the Bremer Presse edition of 1934-35.

Vesalius' acclaimed anatomy book is considered a milestone in anatomic book art. For a long time, authorship of the illustrations was unknown. Today, it is regarded certain that they were made by the Dutchman and student of Titian, Jan Stephan van Calcar. For the purpose of printing, the woodcut stocks were transported from Venice to Basel. As of 1706, they had been in possession of the printer Andreas Maschenbauer in Augsburg. Half a century later the plates went into ownership of the Bavarian physician Johann Anton von Wolter, who intended to supply the illustrations with German text in order to "have a useful anatomy book for Bavarian surgeons, which, illustrated with such exquisite figures, would be a perfect guideline."

In order to put this plan into practice, Heinrich Palmaz Leveling, a professor for anatomy at the Bavarian State University in Ingolstadt, was eventually commissioned. Leveling faced the challenge to endorse the more than 200 years old anatomic illustrations with a German text that was supposed to reflect latest anatomic knowledge. He much drew upon the 'Abhandlung von dem Bau und der Zergliederung des menschlichen Leibes' published by the anatomist Jakob Winslow (1669-1760) in 1754. The biggest challenge for Leveling presumably was to employ German terminology exclusively, that is why he added a 'Verzeichnis der gemeinsten, in diesem Werke vorkommenden Kunstwörter' (glossary of terms) in which he translated every Latin term into German. The original woodblocks remained in possession of the Bavarian State University and came via Landshut to Munich, where they were printed 1934 in a bibliophile edition with Latin text for the last time. Ten years later, all woodblocks burned in an air raid over Munich. (Source: Ingolstadt, Medizin-Historisches Museum).

In 20th century quarter leather on red cloth boards. Spine and hinges a little rubbed. Untrimmed pages soiled at the very edges.

A lovely copy of a rare book with occasional marks but still beautiful.

Owners, Eugen Alexander Polya 1876-1944 (purchased by Russell from his daughter). Bookplate: Ex Libris Anatomica K.F. Russell. (452x286mm)