VESALIUS, Andreas (1514-1564). Icones anatomicae. Munich: The Bremer Press for the New York Academy of Medicine and the University of Munich Library, 1934 [1935].

The final printing from the famous woodblocks designed for Vesalius's anatomical and artistic masterwork, one of 615 limited edition copies. The majority of the woodblocks used for Vesalius' De humani corporis fabrica and his Epitome survived until their destruction in Munich in World War II. The history of the blocks and their movements over the centuries is outlined by Cushing in his Bio-Bibliography of Vesalius. In 1893 and again in 1932, they were rediscovered (except for the portrait and the initials, whose whereabouts are unknown) in Munich in the university library, having apparently been transferred there when the university was moved from Ingolstadt to Munich in the 19th century.

This large and beautiful volume was printed in 1934-35 from those original woodblocks as a joint project of the New York Academy of Medicine and the Library of the University of Munich. 227 of the original 277 illustrations from the Fabrica and Epitome appear here, with the remaining fifty illustrations reproduced photographically. “In the highly informative index to the printer, Dr. Weigand has given a painstaking citation in tabular form of all the places identified by Liber, page, folium and signature where the prints from 227 surviving blocks have been used.” (Cushing, p.108). No. 316 of 615. Vol. 3 in the New York Academy’s “History of Medicine” series. Cushing Vesalius VI.A.-16; Waller 9907; Heirs of Hippocrates 289.

Large folio (546 x 376mm). 188 unsigned leaves including preliminaries, with the English Ad Lectorum issued in 1936 laid-in. Original quarter white pigskin and boards signed by Frieda Thiersch on the inside lower board, gilt stamped title on upper cover, brown morocco gilt stamped title label on spine, edges of the heavy paper leaves untrimmed (minor scuffing). Provenance: Ernst Anspach (bookplate).