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Title: De Homine Figuris, et La Tinitate Donatus a Florentio Schuyl, Inclytę Urbis Sylvę-Ducis Senatore, & ibidem Philosophię Professore. Author: Renatus Des Cartes Publisher: Ex Officina Hackiana Place: Lugduni Batavorum (Leiden) Publication date: 1664 Description: 1664. Second edition, only two years after the first appeared in the same city, contemporary with the final definitive edition. Latin text. (38), 121 Pp., 10 plates [2 folded, and 1 with (2) movable overlays showing the interior regions of the heart]. Profusely adorned with numerous splendid anatomical illustrations engraved in copper and wood, many in half or full page. Woodcut title-page device; head and tailpieces. Small 4to. Full contemporary red morocco with gilt stamped title and design over spine and boards, red marble endpapers. Provenance: Ex-Libris label of M. Gonzalez-Ulloa of Mexico (book plate). Notes: As is known, Descartes labored on the work since 1630, but decided not to publish it, privy to knowledge of Galileo s conviction in 1633. In acknowledgement of Harvey s important discovery, Descartes did not believe that blood circulation was caused by heartbeats but considered the human body as a machine directed by a rational principle located in the pineal gland. Considered the first attempt to embrace all animal physiology, the De Homine . is actually a kind of physiological supplement to the Discours de la Methode published in 1637, a source of inspiration for many scholars. This book was the first attempt to cover the whole field of animal physiological appendix to his Discourse on method. (Garrison-Morton). Work of fundamental importance, among the most eminent products of human ingenuity. Good example (Garrison-Morton 574). Wellcome Catalogue. II, 453. Measures: 8.25 H x 6.5 D x 1 W inches. Seller Inventory # 002480
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