[Rarebooks] fa: ALEXANDER MONRO - STRUCTURE AND PHYSIOLOGY OF FISHES 1785 - HUGE ELEPHANT FOLIO w/ FOLDING PLATE

[Ardwight Chamberlain]

Listed now, auctions ending Sunday, May 13. More details and images can be found at the URL below or by searching under the seller name arch_in_la.

http://tinyurl.com/87dgpd4

Thanks again,
Ardwight Chamberlain
L.A.

Alexander Monro [secundus]: The Structure and Physiology of Fishes Explained, and Compared with those of Man and Other Animals. Illustrated with Figures. By Alexander Monro, M.D. Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and of the Royal Society, and Professor of Physic, Anatomy, and Surgery, in the University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh : Printed for Charles Elliot, Edinburgh; and G.G.J. and J. Robinson, London, 1785. FIRST EDITION, issue with the London imprint. Tall elephant folio (48 x 30.5 cm; 19 x 12 in.) in modern burgundy half morocco and brown buckram, new endpapers; 128 pp.; 49 copper-engraved engraved plates on 43 [of 44] sheets. ESTC T97697.

Deaccessioned from an institutional research library, with its gilt-stamp to the spine foot and ink stamps on the title-page and plates. Lacking the first plate leaf, but with what appears to be at least part of that plate leaf reproduced in pencil, mounted on a stiff backing and loosely laid in (see below). Binding with a few touches of wear to the extremities, front hinge starting to crack at the head and foot but front board is secure; some scattered, mostly light foxing, occasional soiling to the page and plate edges, one or two plates with short closed tears at the folds; otherwise clean and sound, firmly bound.

An extraordinary collection of large plates (measuring up to 28.5 x 18.5 in.) with accompanying notes, preceded by several explanatory chapters, including A Description of the Heart, Vessels, and Circulation of the Blood in Fishes; Of the first Discovery of the System of Absorbent Lacteal and Lymphatic Vessels in Birds, Fishes, and Amphibious Animals; Of the Eyes in Fishes; Experiments on Hearing in Water; etc. "The first important Edinburgh textbook on comparative anatomy, a subject that had been recently introduced to their London students by the Hunters [William and John]" (Dictionary of Scientific Biography). Alexander Monro (1733-1817), called secondus to differentiate him from his father, Alexander primus, and son, Alexander tertius, was a leading Scottish anatomist, surgeon and medical educator with "an insatiable thirst for medical knowledge, an uncommon share of perseverance, and a very good memory" (Wikipedia).