[Rarebooks] FS: The first book on Tatoos and Body Mutilation, 1653, illustrated

[Charles Agvent]

B., J. [BULWER, John]. ANTHROPOMETAMORPHOSIS: MAN TRANSFORM'D : OR,
THE  ARTIFICIALL CHANGLING HISTORICALLY PRESENTED.... London:  William
Hunt  1653.  Second Edition. IN THE MAD AND CRUELL GALLANTRY,  FOOLISH
BRAVERY,    RIDICULOUS  BEAUTY,  FILTHY   FINENESSE,   AND   LOATHSOME
LOVELINESS  OF MOST NATIONS, FASHIONING AND ALTERING THEIR BODIES FROM
THE  MOLD INTENDED BY NATURE; WITH FIGURES OF THOSE  TRANSFIGURATIONS.
TO  WHICH  ARTIFICIALL  AND AFFECTED DEFORMATIONS ARE ADDED,  ALL  THE
NATIVE  AND  NATIONALL MONSTROSITIES THAT HAVE APPEARED  TO  DISFIGURE
THE  HUMANE  FABRICK.  WITH A VINDICATION OF THE  REGULAR  BEAUTY  AND
HONESTY  OF  NATURE.  AND AN APPENDIX OF THE PEDIGREE OF  THE  ENGLISH
GALLANT.  Quarto  (5-1/2" x 7-1/4") bound in early calf with a  recent
calf  spine; [50 (of 52)], 559, [31] pages. Lacks the frontispiece, as
in  the  Wing copy (B5461), leaf A1 (The Intent of the  Frontispiece),
and  the  portrait.  The  Table  leaf is bound  with  the  extra  leaf
containing  three  engravings between S2 and S3. Illustrated with  174
engravings  in  the text. Pforzheimer 115: "The subject  and  abundant
illustrations  ... make it a desideratum in any collection of curiosa,
for  it describes and illustrates every conceivable alteration of  the
human  body  by man's design or by nature and is of equal interest  to
the  anthropologist  and the student of human credulity";  Welcome  I,
270.  Considered  to be THE EARLIEST BOOK ON THE ART OF THE TATOO  AND
OTHER  FORMS  OF BODY MUTILATION. It is a combination of  fiction  and
fact,  ancient  and  modern, brought back to England  by  early  world
travelers.  The  First Edition of 1650 was smaller (a  duodecimo)  and
not illustrated. Very Good copy of a most interesting title.  $7500.00

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