17th Century Illustrated Leather Book, Renatus Descartes De Homine Figuris

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Title: De Homine Figuris, et La Tinitate Donatus a Florentio Schuyl, Inclytæ Urbis Sylvæ-Ducis Senatore, & ibidem Philosophiæ Professore.
Author: … Read more Title: De Homine Figuris, et La Tinitate Donatus a Florentio Schuyl, Inclytæ Urbis Sylvæ-Ducis Senatore, & ibidem Philosophiæ Professore.
Author: Renatus Des-Cartes.
Publisher: Ex Officina Hackiana.
Place: Lugduni Batavorum (Leiden).
Publication date: 1664.

Description: 1664. Second edition, only two years after the first appeared in the same city, contemporary with the final definitive edition. Latin text. (38), 121 Pp., 10 plates [2 folded, and 1 with (2) movable overlays showing the interior regions of the heart]. Profusely adorned with numerous splendid anatomical illustrations engraved in copper and wood, many in half or full page. Woodcut title-page device; head and tailpieces. Small 4to. Full contemporary red morocco with gilt stamped title and design over spine and boards, red marble endpapers. Provenance: Ex-Libris label of M. Gonzalez-Ulloa of Mexico (book plate).

Dimensions: 8.25 H x 6.5 D x 1 W inches.

Notes: As is known, Descartes labored on the work since 1630, but decided not to publish it, privy to knowledge of Galileo’s conviction in 1633. In acknowledgement of Harvey’s important discovery, Descartes did not believe that blood circulation was caused by heartbeats but considered the human body as a machine directed by a rational principle located in the pineal gland. Considered the first attempt to embrace all animal physiology, the “De Homine ...” is actually a kind of physiological supplement to the “Discours de la Methode” published in 1637, a source of inspiration for many scholars. “This book was the first attempt to cover the whole field of animal physiological appendix to his Discourse on method.” (Garrison-Morton). Work of fundamental importance, among the most eminent products of human ingenuity. Good example (Garrison-Morton 574). Wellcome Catalogue. II, 453.

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