SPACKMAN, Thomas (fl. early 17th century) - photo 1
SPACKMAN, Thomas (fl. early 17th century) - photo 2

SPACKMAN, Thomas (fl. early 17th century)

Lot 173
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 1514501
Lot 173 | SPACKMAN, Thomas (fl. early 17th century)
Estimate value
£ 3 000 – 4 000
SPACKMAN, Thomas (fl. early 17th century)
A declaration of such greivous accidents as commonly follow the biting of mad Dogges, together with the cure thereof. London: printed [at Eliot's Court Press] for John Bill, 1613.
Uncommon first edition of the earliest English work devoted to rabies: ESTC lists 9 copies worldwide and only the cropped Macclesfield copy has appeared at auction in over 70 years (RareBookHub).

‘Spackman's book is divided into various sections. He begins with a general historical account of the condition, going on to discuss the cause of the disease and the signs by which a mad dog can be recognized. The greater part of the work is taken up by a detailed description of various ancient and contemporary methods of treatment and cure. Finally, the treatise finishes with short chapters of prognostic notes, the treatment of bites inflicted by non-rabid dogs and a list of "simples of great vertue" used in treatment’ (Barber-Lomax). The author gained a doctorate in medicine at Christ’s College, Cambridge, and subsequently worked as a physician in Worcester. J.W. Barber-Lomax, The Biting of Madde Dogges, JSAP (Feb 1960); ESTC S117713. See Vincent DiMarco, The Bearer of Crazed and Venomous Fangs (2014). Not in Wellcome or NLM/Krivatsky.

Quarto (183 x 137mm). Woodcut title vignette of rabid dog, initials and headpieces (without the apparent blank A1, title faintly soiled, a few minor stains including dampstain in upper corner of quire K, tiny rust hole in margin of B2 and touching two characters on H2 and I3). Modern brown morocco, gilt stamp of the Royal Society of Medicine on upper cover, lettered in gilt on spine (joints lightly rubbed). Provenance: 17th-century ink annotations in margins (some cropped) – ‘2’ in ink on title – Royal Society of Medicine (binding and ink stamp on title).
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
10.12.2025 – 10.12.2025
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