Bartisch, Georg

folio (298 x 185mm.), title printed in red and black within woodcut border with the arms of the dedicatee, August, duke of Saxony, border repeated on C1, large woodcut arms at start of dedication, woodcut portrait of the author on E4v dated 1583, woodcut initials, numerous woodcut illustrations (two provided with 5 and 6 overslips respectively), woodcut printer's device above colophon, contemporary Saxon binding of calf over wooden boards, roll-tooled borders in blind, central panel with gilt centrepiece of the Madonna and Child (upper cover), the Christ Child (lower cover) and corner-pieces with the arms of the duke of Saxony, title-page and A2-6 detached, title-page frayed, some browning, one overslip slightly torn, a few small stains on Y1, upper cover detached, spine defective, lacking both clasps, gilding slightly rubbed

Eimas 369; Norman 125; VD16 B558; Wellcome 697

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
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FIRST EDITION. Bartisch's treatise "is regarded not only as the first systematic work on eye diseases and ophthalmic surgery but also as one of the earliest works to be printed in the vernacular rather than in the traditional Greek or Latin. As a result of his unique contributions, many authorities consider Bartisch to be the founder of modern ophthalmology" (Eimas, p. 132).

The illustrations, full of fascinating period detail, show not just eye disorders and the instruments for treating them but also depict the stages of various procedures such as the removal of cataracts.

The addition of the arms of Saxony on the binding indicate that this copy may well have been the dedication copy for August of Saxony. A few years later, in 1588, Bartisch was appointed oculist to the duke.