FABRICIUS AB AQUAPENDENTE, Hieronymus. Tractatus anatomicus triplex: quorum primus de oculo, visus organo, secundus de aure, auditus organo, tertius de laringe, vocis organo... With engr. figured title, 11 engr. plates, and numerous woodcut diagrams. 4 leaves, 163 pp., (11) pp. index. Large 4to. Contemp. vellum with ms. titles on spine (ties lacking). (Frankfurt am Main, for) Johann Theodor de Bry, 1614.

Important contribution on the organs of vision, speech and hearing by the outstanding Renaissance anatomist Fabricio ab Aquapendente (c. 1533-1619). This is not only the first printing of the first mono-graph on the larynx, but also important in ophthalmology. The illustrations here are superior to the ones in the large folio edition first printed at Venice in 1600. “One of the great Paduan anatomists and teachers, pupil of Fallopius, teacher of Harvey, and friend of Galileo, Fabricius built at his own expense the anatomical theater at Padua, which is still preserved intact. During his long life, he produced a number of important works on anatomy, embryology, and physiology, characterized by numerous large, clear copperplate illustrations which long remained unexcelled. The major portion of this work ... is devoted to the eye, and it is clear that Fabricius was one of the first to grasp the true form and proper location of the lens. Although his description of the ear is sound, it contributed no new knowledge about the ear or the sense of hearing. An extremely competent comparative anatomist, he was best in dealing with the laryngeal apparatus“ (Eimas).- Engr. title slightly smudged in the cent- er, with ms. name in top margin, some worming to paste-downs, otherwise a clean copy.- Cf. Durling 1415; Osler 2558; Waller 2888; Wellcome 2118; Eimas, Heirs of Hippocrates, (1990), 365 (Venice edition only); VD 17 3:623573L (not in Wolfenbüttel).