Paracelsus, 1589-90

First collected edition
Paracelsus, 1589-90
PARACELSUS, Theophrastus (Bombast von Hohenheim, Philippus Aureolus; 1493-1541). Erster [– Achter] Theil der Bücher und Schrifften, des edlen, hochgelehrten und bewehrten Philosophi unnd Medici. Edited by Johannes Huser. Basel: Conrad Waldkirch, 1589-1590.

First collected edition of Paracelsus's medical and natural-philosophical works, edited by Huser from the author’s original manuscripts. Few of Paracelsus's works were published in his lifetime due to his determined condemnation of traditional science, which brought him into frequent conflict with both the medical profession and university authorities. "There is no doubt of Paracelsus' essential influence, both direct and indirect, on medical reform... what is in the end most remarkable in Paracelsus' work is that he achieved real advances in chemistry and medicine through the revival and original development of lore that had been kept alive only at a very low level... it is difficult to overrate the effect of Paracelsus' achievement on the development of medicine and chemistry" (DSB). The present set includes the first 8 volumes of this monumental edition, which extended to 10 volumes altogether.

Eight volumes in 4, quarto (241 x 165mm). Title printed in red and black, woodcut portrait of the author repeated 8 times (8 leaves including title damaged with major restorations affected printed areas; some browning and spotting, occasional faint waterstains, lacking portrait of the author in vol.1, a few other marginal repairs). Contemporary quarter blindstamped pigskin over boards, vols numbered in early MS on fore-edge, later printed spine labels (3 covers detached with 2 other joints splitting, vol.2 lacking backstrip, old restorations to spine, upper cover of vol.4 restored with cloth, spines darkened, somewhat rubbed). Provenance: copiously underlined and annotated in an early hand – Sigismund Thiess (inscription on title dated May 1609, gifting the book to:) – Jeremiah Beckwaldt – early MS index on pastedown of vol.3 – Collection of Peter and Margarethe Braune (bookplate).