RÖSSLIN, Eucharius (1470-1526) - photo 1
RÖSSLIN, Eucharius (1470-1526) - photo 2
RÖSSLIN, Eucharius (1470-1526) - photo 3
RÖSSLIN, Eucharius (1470-1526) - photo 4

RÖSSLIN, Eucharius (1470-1526)

Lot 132
10.12.2025 12:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1514444
Lot 132 | RÖSSLIN, Eucharius (1470-1526)
Estimate value
£ 15 000 – 20 000
RÖSSLIN, Eucharius (1470-1526)
Der swangern Frawen und Hebammen Roszgarten. [Hagenau]: Heinrich Gran [device], [c. 1515].
Rare second edition of the first illustrated obstetrical manual for the use of midwives. This was the authoritative guide to obstetrics in Europe for nearly two centuries, translated into many languages, including Latin in 1532 and English in 1540, and was printed in over a hundred editions: ‘probably no other medical book has been so widely translated and distributed’ (Grolier). The full-page dedicatory woodcut, attributed to Albrecht Dürer’s pupil Martin Kaldenbach, shows the author, a Freiburg apothecary who later served as a court physician, presenting his book to his patron and the dedicatee, Katherine, Duchess of Brunswick and Lüneburg, who is thought to have encouraged him to publish this work. The other full-page woodcut depicts the lying-in chamber, which only appears in the first two editions and was omitted from the third edition. The eighteen small woodcut illustrations (with two repeats) show, for the first time, illustrations of the birthing chair, and positions of the fetus in utero, and twins, including conjoined twins.

‘At the inaugural meeting of the [Royal Society of Medicine’s] History of Medicine Section held on 20th November 1912, Sir William Osler urged members of the Section ‘to take a special interest in the Library of the Society. Though large, and rapidly growing, there were many lacunae, particularly in the choice editions of the works of the great masters of the profession, and he would suggest that by special subscriptions among the members and Fellows, as occasion offered, such books should be bought.’ [Rösslin’s] book was purchased in 1916 for 11 guineas by Sir William Osler, Dr Norman Moore, Dr M. Handfield-Jones, Dr Herbert Spencer, Dr Armand Routh, Dr H. Williamson, Dr Walter Tate and Dr Charles Singer, and donated to the RSM Library.’ (RSM exhibition catalogue, So joyous and gentle a life. An exhibition in memory of Sir William Osler, 1849-1919, [May, 2023]). GM 6138; Osler 3818; Waller 8093; Grolier Club, One Hundred Books Famous in Science (1995), 13 (includes the title-pages of the first three editions of this work).

Small quarto (188 x 135). 55 (of 56) leaves (without final blank). Title within woodcut border incorporating printer’s device, 2 full-page woodcuts and 20 smaller woodcuts (including 2 repeats) in text (lightly browned throughout, repairs to title including paper strengthening on verso of lower right corner, worming and repairs in lower inner margin affecting some letters, a few other marginal repairs, some damp-staining). Early 20th-century dark brown papered boards (rubbed, neatly rebacked with cloth and retaining most of paper spine, corners slightly bumped). Provenance: Royal Society of Medicine (inscribed on verso of preliminary blank: ‘Purchased as a gift for the library … by subscription of a few Fellows, viz.: M. Handfield-Jones, Amand Routh, Charles Singer, the late Dr Walter Tate, Norman Moore, Herbert R. Spencer, Herbert Williamson, and W[illiam] Osler’ [with the signature of each subscriber, except the late Walter Tate], library inkstamp of the Royal Society of Medicine on verso of title dated April 6, 1916 and on final free endpaper).
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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10.12.2025 – 10.12.2025
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джордж боттини (1874 - 1907)
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