Historiarum, et Observationum Medico-physicarum, Centuria prima [-Centuria secunda] In qua, non solum, Multa utilia, sed & rara, stupenda ac inaudita continentur by BOREL, Pierre

12 p.l., 240 pp. Small 8vo, 18th-cent. mottled calf (a few headlines very slightly shaved), flat spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Castres: A. Colomer, 1653. First edition of one of the greatest rarities in the history of medicine and microscopy; I have been looking for a copy for many years. As a testament to the book's rarity, it should be noted that Haskell Norman was never able to acquire a copy, settling only for the second edition of 1656. This is "the first work to apply microscopy to medicine. Borel probably saw the blood corpuscles and Sarcoptes scabiei."-Garrison-Morton 260. The use of the microscope in medicine revealed another world for physicians and scientists. There are also a number of dental and ophthalmological observations. Borel (1620-71), was born at Castres, studied medicine at Montpellier, and began his practice at Castres in 1641. In 1653 he went to Paris and about 1654 was appointed physician to the king. During his whole life he ardently pursued the study of natural history, chemistry, optics, astronomy, antiquities, philology, and bibliography. Among his other works are the first bibliography of chemistry (1654) and the first history of the telescope (1655). Besides practicing medicine, Borel collected rarities, plants, antiquities, and minerals from the town itself and countryside surrounding Castres. The learned dealer Ernst Weil, in his Cat. 16 described a copy of the present book and wrote "a most important work, and of singular rarity." Fine copy. With a note in a late 18th-century hand on the free front-endpaper: "Provenant de la Bibliotheque de l'abbé Sepher (?). 12 Mai 1786." ❧ D.S.B., II, pp. 305-06. .