René Descartes - de Homine - 1686

The body as a perfect machine: Descartes and the birth of modern medicine
Rare extensively illustrated edition of the 'Tractatus de Homine et de formatione foetus' by René Descartes.
It represents one of the most complete and mature attestations of the seventeenth-century reception of Cartesian medical philosophy. Published in Amsterdam at the Blaeu workshop, with perpetual notes by Ludovicus de la Forge, the work systematically presents the mechanistic conception of the human body as a perfectly regulated automaton, governed by physical and hydraulic laws. The anatomical engravings, famous and conceptually impactful, translate Cartesian thought into images, transforming anatomy into a true grammar of natural philosophy.
Market value
In the international antique market, the 1686 Blaeu edition, complete with plates and in good condition, generally falls within a range of 1,000 to 3,000 euros. Particularly fresh specimens, with sharp impressions, wide margins, and a well-preserved contemporary binding, can exceed these values. The 1686 date, being later and less common than earlier editions, is now especially appreciated by collectors for its placement during the full canonization phase of Cartesianism.

Physical description and condition
Contemporary half-leather binding, spine with gold title on a label, signs of use. Volume composed of a two-color frontispiece, a preface by Typographus lectori, continuous text, and numerous copperplate engravings within the text and full-page illustrations depicting the brain, nerves, muscles, visual apparatus, mechanisms of perception, movement, and fetal development. Some foxing and reddening. In ancient books, with a multi-century history, some imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. Pp. (4); 78nn; 240; (4).

Full title and author
Treatise on Man, and on the Formation of the Fetus.
Amsterdam, from the Blavian printing house, 1686.
Renati Des-Cartes.

Context and Significance
The Tractatus de homine is one of the key texts of Cartesian natural philosophy. In it, Descartes describes the human body as a complex machine, explaining vital functions, sensory perception, and movement through mechanical models. The nerves are conceived as conduits, the muscles as traction systems, and the brain as a network of channels and valves traversed by animal spirits. The clear separation between res extensa and res cogitans finds here a rigorous anatomical translation that is visually very powerful. The 1686 edition is set in a phase when these ideas were fully discussed, assimilated, and criticized, making the volume a fundamental document in the history of medicine and modern philosophy.

Biography of the Author
René Descartes was born in La Haye en Touraine in 1596 and died in Stockholm in 1650. Philosopher, mathematician, and scientist, he is considered the founder of modern rationalism. His work has exerted a decisive influence on philosophy, physics, and medicine, establishing a method based on clarity, distinction, and mechanical analysis of natural phenomena.

Printing history and circulation
The Tractatus de homine was published posthumously and went through several editions during the 17th century. The Blaeu edition of 1686 represents an advanced stage of the work's editorial tradition, characterized by high typographical quality and textual stability. Intended for an educated audience of philosophers, physicians, and natural scholars, it significantly contributed to the dissemination and normalization of Cartesianism in late 17th-century Europe.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
AT (Adam & Tannery), Works of Descartes
G. Rodis-Lewis, Descartes and Cartesianism
D. Garber, Descartes’ Metaphysical Physics
BnF, René Descartes, Tractatus de homine, 17th-century editions
Wellcome Collection, Cartesian Anatomy