Glisson, Francis

8vo (167 x 108mm.), woodcut initials and headpieces, woodcut diagrams, engraved illustration, 2 folding engraved plates, contemporary vellum, paper labels on spine, red edges, without initial blank leaf (signed a1), upper joint cracked at head and foot

Josephus Franciscus Wuerner, doctor of medicine and chancellor of the monastery of Einsiedeln, inscription on flyleaf; Capucins of Schwyz, library stamp on verso of flyleaf

Eimas 472; Garrison-Morton 972; Krivatsy 4818; Wellcome iii, p.126; Wing G853

"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

FIRST EDITION of Glisson's treatise on the liver, "which contains an excellent description of the anatomy, normal and morbid, of the liver and a section on the lymphatic vessels (the aqueous ducts, as Glisson named them). The work, which is notable for the dissection techniques employed, was immediately recognized as a major achievement in the field of anatomical investigation. It also stands out for the clear identification of the fibrous sheath of the portal tracts which still today bears the name Glisson's capsule" (G. Giglioni, ODNB).

Glisson (1599?-1677) was one of the founders of the Royal Society and president of the Royal College of Physicians.