Books

March 24, 1490. Chancery 4to (228 x 177 mm). 442 (of 442) unnumbered leaves including initial blank a1. Signatures: (a-p)8 q10 (t-z)8 [et]8 [con]8 [rum]8 (A-N)8 (O-P)6 (Q-Z)8 (aa-bb)8 cc10 (dd-gg)8 hh10 (a1 blank). Text in double columns, 60 lines, types 2:130G, 3:62G, 4:92G. Title from incipit of Book 1. Colophon reads: Regis aboali hassem filii hali abinsceni liber tot[ius] finitus est vna cum tractatu de viribus cordis translato ab Arnaldo de vilanoua. Impressus [et] diligentissime correctus ma[n]dato et impensis nobilis viri Octauiani Scoti ciuis modoetiensis. Uenetiis. Anno salutis. M. CCCCXC. die. 24. Martij. Contains Avicenna's De viribus cordis (leaves 2g5v-2h4r), translated by Arnaldus de Villanova. Incipit reads: Libellus Avicennae de viribus cordis translat[us] ab Arnaldo de villa noua barchinone feliciter incoepit. Rubricated throughout with 3- to 6-line capitals opening paragraphs painted in red or blue, mostly alternating, 7-line capitals opening books and 4-line capitals opening chapters interlaced in red and blue, paragraph marks in red or blue, yellow strokes to sentence initials. Original French Renaissance binding (about 1550), calf over thick boards, spine with 5 raised bands, blind ruling to boards and spine, gilt single stamps (pine cone) to spine compartments, boards with large central gilt arabesque and fleur-de-lis stamp in each corner (spine ends and corners repaired, boards rubbed, soiled and with old burn spots, extremities worn). Text with very little even browning throughout, faint damp-staining to margins of first and final few pages, occasional minor spotting and soiling, ink annotations in contemporary hands throughout, a few pages extensively and narrow-spaced, upper margin trimmed closely towards end of book with headline slightly shaved on 4 pages, 3 leaves (dd3-5) with larger brown-stain, portion of torn publisher's device above colophon on final leaf restored. Provenance: Monsieur Domille (inscription on first flyleaf), medical doctor and politician Jean-Claude Lemoine, Tessy-sur-Vire, Manche (ink stamp on second flyleaf), extensive comments in French in three different hands on first flyleaf. Exceptional copy of the Canon, rarely ever found with the entire text of all five books present and complete as here. William Osler described the Canon as "the most famous medical textbook ever written," noting that it remained "a medical bible for a longer time than any other work." (Osler, p. 71). It "stands for the epitome of all precedent development, the final codification of all Graeco-Arabic medicine" (Max Neuburger, p. 368). The earliest (dated) printed edition of the Latin Canon appeared in 1472, but only covering book 3. Whereas several incunabula copies of the Canon are recorded in public libraries around the world - 48 of the editio princeps (Strasbourg, before 1473) and 35 copies of the Scotus 1490 edition with 8 located in the US - they are exceptionally rare in the trade with only a handful recorded at auction in the past 50+ years and no complete copy of the Scotus edition traced at all. The most common on the market is the Hebrew edition published in Naples in 1491 and the Lyon edition of 1498 (with 90 copies in public libraries). GW lists 15 editions printed before 1501 alone with 12 copies in US libraries. Ibn Sina (c.980-1037), also known in the Western world as Avicenna, was an Arabian philosopher, physician, poet, courtier and politician. He had "perhaps a wider influence in the eastern and western hemispheres than any other Islamic thinker. He lived mainly in Persia but wrote mostly in Arabic, though a few of his works were written in Persian." References: Dibner 120 (this edition), PMM 11 and Horblit 7 (for 1st ed); Klebs 131.11; ISTC ia01424000; BMC V 438; Heirs of Hippocrates 67 (for 1498 edition); W.Osler, The Evolution of Modern Medicine, 2004; M. Neuburger, History of medicine, vol. 1. - Visit our website for additional images and information!.

The publication of Avicenna's "The Canon of Medicine" (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb) in the early 11th century marked a monumental milestone in the history of medical science and publishing. This comprehensive medical encyclopedia, authored by the Persian polymath Ibn Sina (980–1037 AD), known in the West as Avicenna, synthesizes the medical knowledge of ancient and medieval worlds, weaving together the threads of Greek, Roman, and Islamic medical wisdom into a coherent and systematic narrative that would dominate the medical landscape for centuries to come. "The Canon of Medicine" is methodically organized into five books, each serving a distinct purpose but together forming a complete body of medical knowledge. The first book lays down the general principles of medicine, introducing theories of health, sickness, and treatment. The second book catalogues about 800 natural remedies, emphasizing the importance of materia medica in treatment. The third and fourth books are devoted to diseases: the former focusing on ailments specific to certain body parts, and the latter on systemic diseases affecting the body more generally. The fifth book, a practical formulary, provides guidance on the preparation of various remedies. The work is deeply rooted in the philosophical and scientific traditions of Aristotle, Hippocrates, and Galen, yet it also incorporates a substantial amount of Islamic thought and Avicenna’s own observations. This blend of sources and Avicenna's critical approach to existing medical knowledge exemplify the synthesis of diverse intellectual traditions that characterized the Islamic Golden Age. The significance of "The Canon of Medicine" in the realm of medical publishing cannot be overstated. Its translation into Latin in the 12th century facilitated its dissemination across Europe, where it became a foundational text in many medieval universities. This widespread adoption attests to its unparalleled influence on the development of medicine in both the Islamic world and the West, shaping medical education and practice for centuries. Avicenna's holistic approach to health, which underscored the significance of diet, climate, and lifestyle, was revolutionary. This perspective not only broadened the scope of medical practice but also highlighted the interconnectedness of environmental and personal well-being, principles that resonate with contemporary holistic and preventive medicine paradigms. While modern medical science has evolved beyond the specifics of Avicenna's Canon, the work's historical and philosophical significance endures. It stands as a testament to the enduring quest for knowledge and the synthesis of ideas across different cultures and epochs. "The Canon of Medicine" not only illuminated the path for future generations of medical practitioners but also established a benchmark for the compilation and organization of scientific knowledge, influencing the standards of medical publishing.