Versehug von leib seele ehre unnd gutt

[Middle Ages medicine]

1489. Nuremberg. [Peter Wagner or Konrad Zeninger]. 4to, (145 x 210 mm). [1], CLXXI, [9] ff. (a-v8 x-y6 z9; without the last blank), title and heading on a2r in xylography, full-page woodcut on a1v and z9v as well as 144 large ornamental woodcut initials probably after Israel von Meckenem. Calf over wooden boards, retaining the 15th century blinstamped covers, one clasp. Binding restored, modern clasp. Barely thumbed or stained. Inner margin of the first two leaves restored, some further unobtrusive marginal repairs, y6 and z1 interchanged, several quires with a small wormhole in the lower margin. Endpapers renewed retaining parts of the original pastedowns with ownership inscriptions on the front (cf. provenance).

Rare first edition of one of the most important and substantial popular medical compendium of the 15^th century.

 

As a kind of diagnostic aid, it contains topics such as measuring the pulse, assessing urine and faeces as well as bloodletting and provides information on the beneficial use of medicines. It also deals with aspects of care, such as nutrition and personal hygiene for the sick, but also addresses the management of the business and the sick person's goods, as well as giving advice on spiritual and pastoral support in illness and, ultimately, in death.

 

This expressive woodcut on the verso of the title page is attributed by Geldner to Michael Wolgemut, it shows a sick man on his deathbed, surrounded by a doctor with a uroscopy flask (matula), a notary and a priest administaring the sacraments.The woodcut on the last leaf shows the earliest known example of a so-called universal bookplate, whereby the blank escutcheon and the banderole with the printed caption "Das puch und der schilt ist" (The book and coat of arms belong to) could be filled in by the respective owner (cf. Dieter Kudorfer, Das Exlibris als privates Sammelgut und die Exlibris-Sammlung der Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek, in: Bibliotheksforum Bayern 11, 1983, p. 66).

 

Although this first edition is relatively well held institutionally, it rarely appears on the market; the last copy we were able to locate was sold at auction in 2003 (Z & K 41, 3140a, formerly Adam Collection I, 788).

 

Provenance: C. Juzi 1778 inscribed on the title page; presentation inscriptions on the front pastedown by [Tobias von]  Wachter (1775-1839), Mayor of Memmingen to the Ulm scholar Georg Veesenmeyer (1760-1833) and by a C. R. von Lohr of Godesberg to a Dr. B. Schwarz of Ovelgönne, dated 1901; Erasmushaus, Switzerland.

 

GW M50194; HC 16019; BMC II, 463; Pr. 2244; Goff V 235; BSB-Ink V 144; Polain 3919; Schramm VIII, p. 18 and ill. 400/401; Schreiber V, 5423; Not in IGI and Wellcome Library.

1489

$50,000.00