ROESSLIN, Eucharius (d. 1526).] The byrth of mankynde, otherwyse named the woman's booke. Newly set furth, corrected and augmented . Translated by Thomas Raynalde (fl. 1546). London: Thomas Raynald, 1545. 8 o (183 x 116 mm). Collation: A 4 B-I 8 Hh 8 Hhh 6; K-Q 8 R 4; S-X 8 Y 1 0. 181 leaves (of 184, lacking Y8-10). Black letter, 6-part metalcut cribl title border, woodcut and metalcut initials in various sizes. 11 engraved details of human anatomy (one folding) separately cut round and mounted on 4 inserted leaves, the engravings numbered I-XI in later(?) manuscript, 2 engraved leaves printed on both sides of the paper containing one figure of a birthing stool and 17 numbered figures of foetuses in the womb shown in various positions and including 4 figures of twins of which 2 siamese, all after the Roesslin woodcuts. (Title soiled and with short marginal tear, occasional mostly marginal dampstaining.) Contemporary English blind-stamped calf over pasteboard, sides panelled with blind fillets and a panelled foliate roll-tool (not reproduced by Oldham) repeated twice around central columnar design composed of minuscule repeated gouges, floral tools at angles, spine panelled in blind, traces of two ties (outer hinges split, spine and extremities rubbed with loss to leather, old repairs to spine and lower cover, later endpapers). Second edition of the first treatise on midwifery printed in England and the first English book illustrated with copper engravings. The two sheets of engraved "birth figures" appeared previously in the edition of 1540, a translation by Richard Jonas of the 1532 Latin edition ( De partu hominis ) of Roesslin's popular treatise of midwifery. Hind's somewhat dubious attribution of these foetus engravings to Thomas Geminus ( Engraving in England , pp. 44, 53-55) was based on the inclusion in this second edition only of the series of 11 engraved anatomical details, taken from plates [30] and [34] of Geminus's 1545 Anatomy (see lot 102). While the first figure, showing the neural system of the male trunk, is a reverse version of the Geminus engraving, the remaining 10 figures appear to have been printed from the same plates. Priority of publication of the two works has not been established, but given the Anatomy 's publication date of October, it is quite possible that the present edition preceded it, as conjectured by Cushing. This edition was revised by the self-described physician Thomas Raynalde (who may or may not be identical to the printer of both this and the previous edition). Copies with the full series of anatomical engravings are very rare. Cushing 6; NLM/Durling 907; STC 21154; Norman 1844.
ROESSLIN, Eucharius (d. 1526).] The byrth of mankynde, otherwyse named the woman's booke. Newly set furth, corrected and augmented . Translated by Thomas Raynalde (fl. 1546). London: Thomas Raynald, 1545. 8 o (183 x 116 mm). Collation: A 4 B-I 8 Hh 8 Hhh 6; K-Q 8 R 4; S-X 8 Y 1 0. 181 leaves (of 184, lacking Y8-10). Black letter, 6-part metalcut cribl title border, woodcut and metalcut initials in various sizes. 11 engraved details of human anatomy (one folding) separately cut round and mounted on 4 inserted leaves, the engravings numbered I-XI in later(?) manuscript, 2 engraved leaves printed on both sides of the paper containing one figure of a birthing stool and 17 numbered figures of foetuses in the womb shown in various positions and including 4 figures of twins of which 2 siamese, all after the Roesslin woodcuts. (Title soiled and with short marginal tear, occasional mostly marginal dampstaining.) Contemporary English blind-stamped calf over pasteboard, sides panelled with blind fillets and a panelled foliate roll-tool (not reproduced by Oldham) repeated twice around central columnar design composed of minuscule repeated gouges, floral tools at angles, spine panelled in blind, traces of two ties (outer hinges split, spine and extremities rubbed with loss to leather, old repairs to spine and lower cover, later endpapers). Second edition of the first treatise on midwifery printed in England and the first English book illustrated with copper engravings. The two sheets of engraved "birth figures" appeared previously in the edition of 1540, a translation by Richard Jonas of the 1532 Latin edition ( De partu hominis ) of Roesslin's popular treatise of midwifery. Hind's somewhat dubious attribution of these foetus engravings to Thomas Geminus ( Engraving in England , pp. 44, 53-55) was based on the inclusion in this second edition only of the series of 11 engraved anatomical details, taken from plates [30] and [34] of Geminus's 1545 Anatomy (see lot 102). While the first figure, showing the neural system of the male trunk, is a reverse version of the Geminus engraving, the remaining 10 figures appear to have been printed from the same plates. Priority of publication of the two works has not been established, but given the Anatomy 's publication date of October, it is quite possible that the present edition preceded it, as conjectured by Cushing. This edition was revised by the self-described physician Thomas Raynalde (who may or may not be identical to the printer of both this and the previous edition). Copies with the full series of anatomical engravings are very rare. Cushing 6; NLM/Durling 907; STC 21154; Norman 1844.
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