Very rare Dutch edition of a famous anatomical atlas by one of the most prominent anatomists of the 16th century, Bartolomaeus Eustachius (ca. 1510/1520-1574). The present copy contains all 47 anatomical plates and their descriptions. Although not mentioned in most of the relevant reference works, there are two Dutch 1798 editions of the atlas, one printed by Jan Barend Elwe (fl. 1777-1815) and the other by Lodewijk van Es (dates unknown). The edition printed by the latter, which includes the present copy, is exceptionally rare. According to WorldCat, it can only be found in two libraries worldwide. We have also not been able to trace any copies in sales records of the past 100 years.
Eustachius was an Italian physician working in Rome. He enjoyed great prestige and had many members of the Italian nobility among his patients. He was particularly interested in anatomy and preferred to do his own research instead of accepting theories from other physicians.
The present Dutch translation contains all 47 plates that Eustachius has ever made. For this edition, they were newly engraved under the supervision of the Amsterdam professor in anatomy Andreas Bonn (1738-1817). The first few plates illustrate the kidneys and the inner structure of the ear, plate 8 shows the heart, the next seven plates depict the organs in the chest and abdomen, plate 17 and 18 show the brain, spinal cord and nerves, and the final plates are devoted to muscles and bones. Although the plates were long since obsolete from an anatomical viewpoint, their publication in the 18th century led to many changes in the history of anatomic discovery by helping to trace many important discoveries back to their original source. Eustachius was credited with some of his discoveries by having them named after him, including the Eustachian valve in the heart, and the Eustachian tube in the ear.
The work shows traces of use, the edges of the boards are scuffed, resulting in tears in the marbled paper, revealing the cardboard underneath. With a water stain in the head margin of the first 8 typographical leaves after the title-page, but not in the plates, slightly affecting the text. Otherwise in good condition. Blake, p. 139; STCN 298448114 (1 copy); WorldCat 1090147277 (2 copies); cf. Bibliotheca medica Neerlandica, p. 85 (different ed.); Choulant p. 36 and pp. 200-204; Waller 2839 (different ed.); Wellcome II, p. 536 (different ed.).