Basel: Hieronymus Froben, 1546. An exceptionally fine copy, completely untouched in its original binding, of ‘the first handbook of modern systematic mineralogy’ (Grolier/Horblit 2a). “Georgius Agricola (latinized from the German ‘Georg Bauer’) became interested in the theoretical and practical aspects of mining, metallurgy and geology after being appointed town doctor..... More
Item #4140

Milan: Giovanni Battista Bidelli, 1627. First edition, a fine copy, of the first book with anatomical illustrations printed in colour. “In 1622, during a vivisection performed upon a dog that had just fed, Aselli (1581-1625) rediscovered the chylous or lacteal vessels, which Galen and Eristratus reported to have been documented..... More
Item #5795

Frankfurt: Wolfgang Richter for Anton Humm, 1614. First editions of these two rare works on optics by the ‘Doctor Mirabilis’ Roger Bacon (1214/1220-1292) – ‘perspectiva’ for Bacon had a different meaning from today’s ‘perspective’. Bacon’s “skill in mathematics, experimental science and mechanical inventions was so remarkable for his time that..... More
Item #5811

London: John Murray, 1863. First edition of Bates’s wildly popular account of the years he spent in the Amazon region, during which he identified several thousand new species of insects and animals. He published it at the urging of Darwin, who wrote a lengthy appreciation of the book in the..... More
Item #5283

Paris: Regnaud Chaudiere, 1551. First edition, very rare, of Belon’s first biological work. “In his Histoire naturelle des estranges poissons marins (1551), Belon presented an orderly classification of ‘fish’ that included the sturgeon, the tuna, the malarmat (peristedion), the dolphin, and the hippopotamus … Belon can be considered the originator..... More
Item #5859

Edinburgh: G. Hamilton & J. Balfour, 1754. First edition of one of the greatest rarities in the history of science, the discovery of carbon dioxide and the foundation work of quantitative chemical analysis. “There is perhaps no other instance of a graduation thesis so weighted with significant novelty as Black’s..... More
Item #5461

Rotterdam; A. Leers; London: excudebat J.C. veniuntque [sic] apud J. Crooke, 1662. First Latin edition, published one year after the first English edition, of this milestone in the history of chemistry. “His most important work [where he] set down his corpuscular theory of the constitution of matter, which finally freed..... More
Item #6240

Florence: Giorgio Marescotti, 1583. First edition, and an exceptionally fine copy, of “the first true textbook of botany’ (DSB): the introduction of Cesalpino’s classification system, which anticipated Linnaeus’ system of binomial nomenclature. “Whereas other sixteenth-century botanists were content simply to compile vast haphazard catalogues of plants, Cesalpino was the first..... More
Item #6089

Florence: Luigi Carlieri, 1793-1794. First edition of perhaps the greatest rarity in the history of psychiatric literature. Based on his practical experience at the hospital of S. Bonifazio in Florence, in Della pazzia Chiarugi (1759-1820) discussed the causes and treatment of insanity. Chiarugi’s work and the reforms he instituted at..... More
Item #4906

Manchester: S. Russell for R. Bickerstaff, Strand, London; Russell & Allen for R. Bickerstaff, Strand, London; executors of S. Russell for George Wilson; John Harrison, 1808-1810-1827; 1840. First edition, complete with all three parts inscribed by Dalton, and in original publisher’s bindings with original printed spine labels, of his classic..... More
Item #5839

Paris & London; Paris; Paris & London: J.-B. Baillière; Crochard; J.-B. Baillière, 1827:1832;1838. First editions in original wrappers of three rare works, two of which are inscribed presentation copies, by the founder, together with Philippe Pinel, of the French school of psychiatry. “Esquirol was one of the first to apply..... More
Item #5804

Paris: Jean Mariette, 1728. First edition of Fauchard’s pioneering work in the field of modern dentistry. “Before Fauchard’s time the profession of dentistry was truly a ‘mystery: for its practitioners had steadfastly refrained from publishing details of their technique and equipment. Fauchard summarized in his pages with numerous illustrations all..... More
Item #5119

Paris: Chez l'autheur, 1663. First edition, rare, of this very important chemistry text, which went through some thirteen editions between 1663 and 1710. “The Traité is Glaser’s only publication. Printed in a small number at the author’s expense, the first edition was sold from his house. Rapidly becoming a best..... More
Item #3412