Fontanus, Humani Corporis Fabrica Epitome, 1642

Librorum Andreae Vesalii Buxellensis De Humani Corporis Fabrica Epitome: Cum Annotationibus Nicolai Fontani Amstelredamensis Medici. Amstelodami, Apud Ioannem Ianssonium 1642.
 
Folio in early vellum. Manuscript title on spine. Remnants of labels on spine. Mild scattered stains of boards and spine. Slight splay. Prior dealer’s notes written on front paste down. Joints and hinges intact. Binding tight. Engraved title page. Two plates trimmed at fore-edge very slightly into image. Mostly bright though some mild toning mostly towards rear. A few small stains involving text. Includes folding “Adam and Eve” plate as well as Vesalius portrait. Decorative capitals and tailpieces.
 
Per Cushing (pg 136): “A new edition of the Bauman-Geminus plates with text following the Botter editions of 1600-01 and 1617. There is an elaborate engraved title border, and in Fontanus’ annotations to the Epitome there are three new figures” (omentum of infant, viscera, and uterus with adnexa); “otherwise the figures are all taken from Bauman’s copper plates.” Also contains in the prelims an interesting “Drama Cercopithecium.” It is a short drama in which a monkey puts mankind to ridicule. By implication, the Vesalius-Sylvius antagonism is dramatized. Vesalius made monkey’s out of men in contradistinction to Galen who made men of monkeys.
 
Nicolaas Fonteyn was a Dutch physician. He authored a book on women’s health and was an inspector of the college of medicine in Amsterdam.
 
Pagination: (11) 112. 42 plates (one folding).
 
Collation: Ffep, blank title - *2, **4, ***, Pl 1, Pl 2 (folding), A – I6, K2, blank, rfep. With 42 plates (one folding) and 2 figures.