De Motu Cordis & Sanguinis in animalibus, Anatomica Exercitatio - photo 1
De Motu Cordis & Sanguinis in animalibus, Anatomica Exercitatio - photo 2

De Motu Cordis & Sanguinis in animalibus, Anatomica Exercitatio

Starting price
$ 100
Auction dateClassic
27.01.2023 10:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 887813
Lot 40 | De Motu Cordis & Sanguinis in animalibus, Anatomica Exercitatio
HARVEY, William (1578-1657). De Motu Cordis & Sanguinis in animalibus, Anatomica Exercitatio. Leiden: Johann Maire, 1639 [issued with:] ASELLI, Gaspare. De Lactibus, sive Lacteis Venis, quarto vasorum mesaraicorum genere, novo invento. Leiden: Johann Maire, 1640.

Annotated second editionof Harvey's opus on the circulatory system, which sparked a Copernican revolution in the field of physiology—"the cornerstone of modern physiology and medicine" (Garrison-Morton). Annotated by a contemporary physician. The exceptionally rare first edition was published in Frankfurt in 1628 and an incomplete edition followed in Venice in 1635; this is the earliest reasonably obtainable edition, and the third overall. Harvey was an English physician who studied at Padua, and this books his discovery and experimental proof of the circulation of the blood, with its iconic engravings modeled on those of his teacher, Fabrici (see lot 23). Fabrici had published the first serious work on the venous valves, but it was left to his student to fully understand their significance. Through his teacher, Harvey met Galileo, and seems to have taken inspiration from Heliocentrism in his work on the circulatory system.

"For twenty years Harvey pursued his objective in both human and comparative anatomy. He proved experimentally that the blood's motion is continuous and always in one direction, and that its actual amount and velocity makes it a physical impossibility for it to do otherwise than return to the heart by the venous route, the heart being itself a muscle and acting as a pump. He showed how the whole of the blood passes through the lungs, is returned to the left side of the heart, then passes through the general circulation and returns to the right side; he even suspected the existence of the capillaries connecting the smallest arteries with the smallest veins, but without the microscope he could not see them" (PMM). This edition also includes the attacks on Harvey by Parisanus and Primrose, and the third edition of Aselli's classic on the discovery of lacteal vessels. Keynes 3; Krivatsy 5329 (Harvey) and 447 (Aselli); Wellcome 3070 (Harvey) and 506 (Aselli); Heirs of Hippocrates 256 (Harvey only). See PMM 127 (first edition).

Three parts in one, quarto (191 x 146mm). I: 2 engraved plates; II: 4 engraved plates (dampstaining at ends, some toning). Contemporary Dutch vellum with yapp edges, edges black (pastedowns lifted). Provenance: Henrick Lubaeus, b. 1617, medical author (inscription dated 1644 and other marginal annotations) – Initials ‘J W’; and date 1734 on title – Library of the College of Surgeons of Ireland (stamp on title, blindstamp on plates and following text leaf).

Also bound with: BECKHER, Daniel. Medicus microcosmus seu spagyria microcosmi. Leiden: Jacob Maire, 1633. Krivatsky 1011.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
13.01.2023 – 27.01.2023
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

More from Creator

Harvey,W.
Harvey,W.
€750
Harvey,W.
Harvey,W.
€750
Harvey,W.
Harvey,W.
€1 000

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.