Claudius Galenus - De Cucurbitulis, Scarificationibus, Hirudinibus & Phlebotomia - 1609

Claudius Galenus (Galen)
Galen's Sixth Book of the Sexta Classis – On Cucurbituli, Scarifications, Hirudines, & Phlebotomy
Venice, Apud Iuntas (Giunta), 1609
This is the sixth part out of seven.
A fascinating and complete early 17th-century Venetian edition of the Sixth Class of the works of Galen, devoted to some of the most characteristic medical treatments of classical and early modern medicine: cupping, scarification, the use of leeches and phlebotomy (bloodletting).
Printed in Venice by the celebrated Giunta press in 1609.
The work opens with an impressive woodcut architectural title border, richly decorated with figures and scenes relating to medicine, including Aesculapius and Galen, physicians, patients and medical treatments.
The volume contains several individual treatises concerning bloodletting and related therapies, with attractive woodcut headpieces and decorated initials.
Particularly interesting are the numerous early handwritten marginal annotations found throughout the work. These annotations, including comments, references and underlining alongside passages concerning medical treatment, demonstrate that this copy was actively studied and used by an early reader, possibly someone with a medical or scholarly background.
Collation:
6a–6c⁶, 6d⁴ = 22 leaves (21 printed leaves + final blank).
The work has been checked by signatures and is complete. The final printed leaf concludes:
“SEXTAE CLASSIS FINIS”
Venetiis, Apud Iuntas.
The printer's collation statement at the end confirms the gathering structure:
“Omnes sunt terniones, praeter dddddd duernionem.”
A particularly appealing survival from the history of medicine, combining an important classical medical author, Venetian printing, striking Renaissance-style woodcut decoration and evidence of contemporary or early scholarly use.
Condition:
Good condition for a book more than 400 years old. Paper generally well preserved, with occasional spotting, staining and signs of use. Several leaves contain early handwritten marginal annotations and underlining. Please study the photographs carefully; they form an important part of the description.Binding: The work is preserved as a complete, firmly sewn text block, without binding. The sewing is intact and solid, and the leaves are securely held together.