Four atlas volumes only, text volumes not present. 264 full-page copper-engraved plates, 197 of which have an engraved outline key plate on facing leaf, for a total of 461 plates in all; plus copper-engraved allegorical frontispiece in plate Volume I; engraved title-page in each plate volume. (Elephant folio) 71.5x50 cm (28x19¾") period calf-backed boards. First Edition.
Magnificent set of this stupendous anatomical atlas, skillfully engraved on fine paper. The plate volumes only, text volumes not present here, as often. "Leopoldo Caldani succeeded Morgagni in the chair of anatomy at Padua, where he was already professor of theoretical medicine. In his later years he was assisted in the publication of his anatomical works by his nephew, Floriano Caldani, also a professor at Padua. They worked together on this massive and beautiful compilation of the best anatomic representations of past years. For example, the representations of bones and muscles follow Albinus, the teeth and sexual organs are after John Hunter, the lymphatics after Mascagni, and the pregnant uterus and embryos after William Hunter and Soemmerring. Among the other major anatomists represented are Monro, Scarpa, Cruikshank, Ruysch, Loder, Cotugno, Haller, Sandifort, Santorini, and Camper. However, many of the plates were drawn from original preparations by the younger Caldani. Heirs of Hippocrates No. 962; Choulant-Frank, pp. 327-328; Wellcome II, p. 287