Discovery of An Annotated Work by Vesalius

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SUMMARY

The recent discovery of an annotated second edition of Andreas Vesalius' De humani corporis fabrica (1555) has garnered significant attention, selling for €2.23 million. This book, one of only 150 known copies, features extensive Latin annotations by an unknown hand, challenging the common perception among collectors that annotations diminish a book's value. Vesalius' work, originally published in 1543, revolutionized the field of anatomy, replacing Galen's long-standing references and marking a pivotal moment in medical history.

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  • Understanding of historical book collecting practices
  • Familiarity with the significance of Vesalius' contributions to anatomy
  • Knowledge of Latin language for interpreting annotations
  • Awareness of the valuation criteria for rare books
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Book collectors, historians of medicine, rare book dealers, and anyone interested in the intersection of literature and medical history will benefit from this discussion.

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https://newatlas.com/collectibles/bookfind-of-the-century-sells-for-2-23-million/

In 2007 a retired Canadian doctor paid €13,200 (US$14,256) for a well-used second edition of Andreas Vesalius' De humani corporis fabrica (1555), one of the most influential books in history. Only 150 copies are known. The book had been in the hands of collectors for more than four centuries and had extensive latin annotations by an unknown hand.

Book collectors tend to shun books with annotations as they are often seen as desecrations of the finished work, particularly so with important works, but even more so when a book is as large, beautiful and of such immense historical gravitas as De humani corporis fabrica.

When it was published in 1543, Vesalius' illustrated work advanced anatomy 1,300 years, superseding Galen's work (circa 150 CE) as the primary reference for physicians across Europe.
 

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