Old Instruments Used for Extracting Teeth

Colyer, Frank

Published by Staples Press Limited / Staples Press Incorporated, London, 1952

About this Item

A richly illustrated and meticulous historical study by Sir Frank Colyer, one of Britainâ s foremost dental historians and surgeons, tracing the evolution of tooth-extraction instruments from antiquity through the 19th century. This first edition, published in aid of the Benevolent Fund of the British Dental Association, documents centuries of dental innovation through detailed text and hundreds of engravings, diagrams, and photographic reproductions. Colyer discusses the development of pelicans, keys, forceps, and complex mechanical extraction devices, referencing primary historical sources such as Fauchard, Gariot, Petit, and the surgical compendia of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The book remains a foundational visual and textual resource on the material culture of dentistry and medical instrumentation, offering remarkable insight into both craftsmanship and surgical evolution. The work is notable for its comprehensive visual documentation, showing not only individual instruments but also period extraction chairs, cases, and mechanical assemblies. Produced to benefit the B.D.A.â s Benevolent Fund, the volume reflects Colyerâ s commitment to advancing professional and historical knowledge within the dental community. The illustrations were reproduced from the authorâ s own collection and from holdings of the Royal College of Surgeons Museum, with figure references carefully annotated in the text. Condition & Binding:ÂBound in publisherâ s original black cloth, gilt title to spine and gilt Staples crest at lower rear board. Clean, tight, and square; gilt somewhat dulled but legible. Light corner and spine-end wear; interior crisp and unmarked, with sharp printing and well-preserved plates. Overall- Near fine.

Seller Inventory # 708

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Old Instruments Used for Extracting Teeth
• Publisher: Staples Press Limited / Staples Press Incorporated, London
• Publication Date: 1952
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First edition.
• Seller catalogs:
  • Medicine