PETRUS de ABANO [with] BUCCI, Domenico [with] BRILLI de Lendenaria, Ippolito [with] PRAXIS medicinae

ANNOTATED THROUGHOUT

PETRUS de ABANO [with] BUCCI, Domenico [with] BRILLI de Lendenaria, Ippolito [with] PRAXIS medicinae Libellus sane aureus, præstantiss. ac præclariss. De venenis; Quaestia IIII Medicinalia juxta Hippocratis et Galeni mentem examinata; Opusculum de vermibus in corpore humano genitis; PRAXIS medicinae quouis illustriori inscribenda titulo

Venice, 1) apud Ioan. Gryphium, 1550; 2) Ioan. Gryphius excudebat, 1551; 3) in Officina Erasmiana, 1540; 4) apud Mapheum Pasinium, & Franciscum Bindonium, 1545

£4,500.00

Four vols. in one. 8vo. 1) pp. 63, [1]. A-H 2) ff. 40. a-k . 3) ff. [xxiv]. A-F . 4) ff. [xliv]. A-L4. Italic letter, some Roman. Griphius’ woodcut printers device on the title of first two vols, woodcut historiated initials in both, large woodcut griffin on verso of last in first vol., extensive contemporary marginal annotations, notes in the same hand on rear pastedown, bookplate of Van der Hoeven on front pastedown, his ownership inscriptions dated 1860 and 1900 on fly, with shelf mark below.  Light age yellowing, the odd marginal mark or stain. Very good copies, crisp and clean, in contemporary limp vellum, yapp edges, remains of ties, shelf-mark? ‘Ai’ manuscript on upper cover, a little soiled.

A most interesting sammelband of practical medical texts, all extensively annotated in a contemporary hand, most probably a medical practitioner. The first work, Pietro de Abano’s De venenis eorumque remediis, expounds on Arabic theories concerning superstitions, poisons and contagions, is one of the most prominent medieval toxicological texts, probably based on Avicenna and Pseudo-Mesue’s works. It not only describes the toxic properties of minerals, plants, and animals, but discusses their action on the human body in a complex theoretical system. Composed in the early 14th century, it is transmitted in numerous manuscripts and was translated into French twice during the Renaissance, and three times in Italian, a few decades after its first printing. “Abano founded the Paduan School of medicine, introducing elements of Arabic knowledge into Italy, and worked towards the synthesis of medieval, classical, Arabic, and Jewish philosophy. Pietro’s second major work is a description of all important known poisons with descriptions of symptoms and antidotes or treatments. Reportedly done for a pope – possibly John XXII – it too is a mixture of astrology and superstition, but the listing of poisons and symptoms is well done.” F van Hartesveldt. ‘Pietro d’Abano. Italian Scholar and scientist.’

The second work is Bucci’s practical comparison of the treatments of Hippocrates and Galen in four specific questions, each of which is addressed to a doctor. Interestingly the first question is addressed to Doctor John Scot of Turin. The third work is the first treatise on parasitic worms, which was first published at Venice in 1540. “Ippolito Brilli of Lendinara, Italy  published the first pamphlet on parasitic worms, ‘Opusculum de vermibus in corpore humano genitis.’ (Venice 1540). He had finished his manuscript on June 30, 1537, and authorities he cited where Hippocrates, Galen, Paul of Aegina, Aetus of Amida, and Celsus from antiquity, and Arabic authors Serapion and ibn Sina”. Frank N. Egerton. ‘Roots of Ecology: Antiquity to Haeckel.’ The final work is a most interesting practical medical manual on the treatment of disease, giving ‘tried and tested’ treatments by various European authors.

The choice of works in this sammelband point to a a medical practitioners copy as they are all eminently practical works. The annotations in this vol are detailed and significant and are an interesting insight into the use of these books by a C16th professional reader.

Petrus: Wellcome I, 4945; not in BM STC It. C16th., Durling or Adams. Bucius: Durling 769; Wellcome I, 1143; not in BM STC It. C16th., or Adams. Brilli: BM STC It. C16th. p.126. Durling 708. not in Wellcome or Adams. Praxis: Durling 3757; Wellcome 5245; not in BM STC It. C16th or Adams.
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