TAGLIACOZZI, Gaspare (1545-1599) - photo 1
TAGLIACOZZI, Gaspare (1545-1599) - photo 2
TAGLIACOZZI, Gaspare (1545-1599) - photo 3

TAGLIACOZZI, Gaspare (1545-1599)

Lot 171
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 1514556
Lot 171 | TAGLIACOZZI, Gaspare (1545-1599)
Estimate value
£ 5 000 – 7 000
TAGLIACOZZI, Gaspare (1545-1599)
De curtorum chirurgia per insitionem. Venice: Roberto Meietti, 1597.
The first book devoted to plastic surgery: the pirated edition issued the same year as the bestselling first printing. Tagliacozzi was pioneering professor of surgery, specialising in nasal reconstruction, at the University of Bologna, who brought to bear a lifetime of experience on this first book to focus exclusively on plastic surgery. The volume is divided into two parts, treating theory and practice in turn: the first outlines the structure, function and physiology of the nose; the second describes and illustrates the instruments and operative procedures for restoration of the nose, lip and ear. It also covers medical complications: haemorrhages, gangrene and scarring. Plastic surgery met a real 16th-century need, thanks to mutilations caused by duelling and violence; Tycho Brahe lost his nose in a duel and wore a replacement, reputedly made of silver and gold. ‘The numerous full-page woodcuts are well-executed and illustrate many of the techniques described in the text. The immediate popularity of the work caused it to be pirated by another Venetian printer, and that is the edition mentioned by Osler’ (Heirs). Although the exclusive right to print Tagliacozzi’s text was granted to Gasparo Bindoni the Younger, the immediate success of the first edition of 1597 prompted Roberto Meietti to take advantage of Venice’s laxly-enforced copyright laws and publish a pirate edition at a lower price, on smaller paper and with slightly less detailed copies of the woodcuts. Durling-NLM 4311; Grolier Medicine 23; Heirs of Hippocrates 379; Norman 2048 (large-paper copy); Osler 4097.

Folio (284 x 190mm). Without the blanks F8 and Ff8. Title printed in red and black, 22 full-page woodcuts (upper corners of first four leaves repaired, title a little browned and bottom corner strengthened, occasional small marginal nicks, very faint old dampstaining only touching the first woodcut). Modern half morocco. Provenance: James Dixon (presumably: 1814-1894, one of the original 300 Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons; presentation inscription dated 12 December 1849 pasted onto flyleaf) – Royal Society of Medicine (ink stamps [Medical and Chirurgical Society] on title and other leaves).
Place of origin:Italy, Europe
Auction house category:Medicine & science, Books and manuscripts, Printed books
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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