Willis, Opera Omnia, 1694
Thomae Willis Med. Doct. Opera Omnia, Nitidius quam unquam hactenus edita, plurimum emendata, Indice rerum copiosisimo, ac distinctione characterum exornata. Studio & Opera Gerardi Blasii, M. D. Et in Illust. Amstelaed. Gymnasio Prof. Publ. Bibliothecarii, &c. Hac tandem nouissima Editione accuratissime recognita, ac expolita. Excellentissimo Domino Antonio Mastini Medicorum Coryphaeo Preaestantissimo Dicata. Coloniae, 1694. Sumptibus Gasparis Storti. Cum Superiorum Facultate.
Full contemporary vellum with raised bands, title, and ink-drawn embellishment on spine. Corners bumped and chipped. Scattered stains. A few foci of worming. 21st century vellum repairs focally along hinges and spine. Minor tears to fore-edge margin of ffep. Prior dealer’s pencil notes on ffep. “1694” written in an early hand in ink at bottom of title page. Corners a bit thumbed; a few folded, and fewer still with small linear tears. Pages mostly bright and margins are well retained. Some mild foxing and a few leaves slightly toned. A few small black and brown smudges and foci of damp stain scattered throughout—mostly marginal, but a few involving text (rarely obscures text). Most significant stain is at bottom edge of several leaves, culminating on pg 250 where it just creeps into the text. Small focus of old mildew stain at top edge of 46 and 48, as well as last four pages of index and end paper (most notable on last two index pages, where it, along with a fold, involves the top of the text). Old paper repair of closed tear in text on 67/68. Two small marginal stains on 108, not involving figure. Early marginalia on pages 190, 415, 427, 553. Type set in two columns, in Latin, with scattered decorative capitols. Binding tight throughout.
Blank, title, 12 pgs prelims (including portrait, life of author, etc.), 1 - 586, 17 pg index, blank.
The illustrations consist of full-page plates and in-text figures, inconsistently designated figures and tables in book one despite continuous numbering. The illustrations are numbered and located as follows:
Book I
Fig I and II (circle of Willis) on pp 108 and 109. Fig III p 113. Fig IV p 114. Fig V p 116. Fig VI p 117. Unnumbered fig p 124. Fig VII p 128. Fig VIII p 133. Unnumbered fig p 153. Tab IX, X, XI (autonomics) pp 172, 174, 176. Tab XII (spinal cord) p 178. Tab XIII p 179. Unnumbered figs pp 180, 188, 291.
Book II
Tab I p 307. Tab II and III (oyster and lobster) pp 308 and 309. Tab IV (worm) p 310. Tab V, VI, VI pp 314 and 315. Tab VIII p 324. Tab I/II, II/IV, V/VI bound upside down and in reverse sequence, follow p 430. Tab I - VIII follow p 503.
We count a total of 40 engravings.
Measures approximately 13 ¼ x 9 ¼ x 2 inches.
Thomas Willis (1621 – 1675). Per G-M 62 “Willis was remarkable for his careful clinical observation. He was second only to Sydenham in his day. To him we owe the original descriptions of several conditions.” He also published “the most complete and accurate account of the nervous system which had hitherto appeared, and the work that coined the term, ‘neurology.’ Wepfer and others preceded Willis in giving a detailed and complete description of the ‘circle of Willis.’” (G-M 1378). Cole (History of Comparative Anatomy) praises Willis’ observations and conclusions in comparative anatomy, but is careful to note that the dissections were probably not Willis’ own.
Heirs of Hippocrates 343: “Willis, a graduate of Oxford, practiced medicine and taught there until 1666, when he went to London, where he attained a large practice and was known as outstanding physician. In addition to his practice, he carried on extensive research and published a number of important works on medicine, anatomy, and pharmacology.”
Willis was among the “eminent anatomists” who were included in “the distinguished group of experimental scientists, who met in Oxford as the Invisible College and later founded the Royal Society. Willis preceded and was contemporary to, Robert Boyle and Richard Lower among the 17th century “private anatomical teachers” at Oxford. (Sinclair and Robb-Smith, pgs 14 and 71).
