GIBSON, Thomas.

8vo, pp. (viii), 510, 1 leaf (conjugate with Kk1 and paginated 343–344, a cancellans for leaf Z4, the explanation of the plate of the brain, with additional text), 13 engraved plates. Imprimatur leaf, title within double ruled border. Contemporary speckled calf, sides ruled in blind, spine unlettered (two tiny wormholes in spine). Small piece of the upper margin of P1 torn out with loss of 4 letters of the headline and two words of the top line of text, some small spots and marks, and a few very minor stains, but a nice copy. Bookplate of George Mitchell, who formed a library of English medical books noted for its quality and condition; and of Dr. & Mrs. H.R. Knohl.

FIRST EDITION, published anonymously, perhaps to avoid accusations of plagiarism as Gibson based his comprehensive book on Alexander Read's manual of anatomy. The bookseller T. Flesher planned to put out a new edition of Read’s anatomy, and asked Gibson to revise and correct Read’s text, but Gibson says ”I must in effect write a new Book. Which I have really done…” (preface). This was probably the most successful English anatomical textbook to date, running to eight editions before being succeeded by Cheselden's anatomy. Wing G672. Russell, British Anatomy, 314 (not noting the cancel).