Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical. The Drawings by H. V. Carter. The Dissections Jointly by the Author and Dr. Carter.

GRAY, Henry.

Published by Philadelphia: Blanchard and Lea, 1859

First US edition of the medical phenomenon known to successive generations as Gray's Anatomy, a landmark textbook which has been in continuous publication ever since. This edition corrects several errors found in the first edition, printed in London the previous year. This is an exceptionally well-preserved copy in its original sheep binding, entirely unrestored. "The success of the book was not due to an absence of rivals. Gray's Anatomy, however, eclipsed all others, partly for its meticulous detail, partly for its emphasis on surgical anatomy, but most of all perhaps for the excellence of the illustrations, based on drawings by Henry Vandyke Carter, who assisted Gray with the dissections, and engraved by Messrs Butterworth and Heath with remarkable skill. The design of the book, and the skill with which the illustrations were interpolated in the text, could hardly have been improved. It is a measure of Gray's single-minded devotion to anatomy and authorship that Gray's Anatomy continued to be not only an important book of reference but virtually a household phrase" (ODNB). For the first British edition: Garrison-Morton 418; Grolier, Medicine, 69; Heirs of Hippocrates 1914; Norman 939. Royal octavo. With 363 wood engravings in text, 80 pp. of publisher's advertisements at rear. Publisher's sheep, flat spine ruled in gilt, black spine label. Ownership stamp of one J. Chas. Carson to front pastedown, perhaps James Charles Carson (1812-1889), lawyer, or Charles J. Carson (1876-1964), physician. Head of front joint starting, damp stains to covers and upper margins of contents, foxing to endleaves: a near-fine copy of a work prone to dilapidation through overuse. Seller Inventory # 180731

Bibliographic Details

Title: Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical. The ...
Publisher: Philadelphia: Blanchard and Lea, 1859
Edition: 1st Edition