Hieronymus Brunschwig, December 1497

BRUNSCHWIG, Hieronymus (c.1450–1512/13). Chirurgia, in German: Dis ist das Buch der Cirurgia: Hantwirckung der Wundartzny. Augsburg: Johann Schönsperger, December [14]97.

Second edition of 'the first important printed surgical treatise in German' (Garrison-Morton 5559). Rare on the market, with RBH listing neither incunable edition since 1927. Brunschwig was a highly distinguished scholar in the field of medical sciences and specifically surgery. He was among the first authors to use the new printing technologies of the 15th century to disseminate medical knowledge widely, significantly influencing the practice of surgery in Europe. The Chirurgia is the first illustrated surgical text and contains the earliest published account of gunshot wounds as well as the first printed depiction of an armamentarium (a folding structure used to hang surgical instruments). The illustrations depict common scenes in the life of a physician: patient examinations, bedside consultations, medicinal preparations and surgical instruments' use and storage. The present edition appeared only 5 months following the first edition, printed at Strasbourg by Grüninger. Garrison-Morton 5559. Hartnell, in Flaying in the Pre-Modern World (2017), p. 34. H *4019; BMC II 371; BSB-Ink B-931; GW 5594; Goff B-1226; Klebs 225.2; ISTC ib01226000.

Chancery folio (280 × 199mm). 126 leaves [b2-b5, c2-c5, d2-d5 and e2-e5 supplied from another copy, with margins extended]. Wound man woodcut on title-page, first full-page woodcut hand-coloured, other woodcuts throughout with repeats, rubricated, with some red embellishments to the woodcuts (first quire and supplied leaves rehinged, a few stains and scattered wormholes). Contemporary German half blindstamped pigskin over wooden boards, brass clasp and catchplate (recased, pigskin darkened and rubbed). Provenance: contemporary German medical notes on title verso and margins – later inscription dated 1580 on upper pastedown.