Cowper. Myotomia reformata. 1724.
One of the most beautiful atlases of the 18th century
COWPER, William.
Myotomia reformata: or An anatomical treatise on the muscles of the human body.
London, Robert Knaplock, William and John Innys and Jacob Tonson, 1724.
4500 €
Folio (47.7x34.5 cm), (12), lxxvii, 114, (4), (115)-194 pages. frontispiece and 66 plates (plus 1 outline plate), double-page engraved table.
binding: Twentieth-century quarter black morocco, spine in seven compartments, title in gilt on lettering-piece.
Frontispiece, pages 76 and 133 a little soiled, small tear in margin of page 148, plates xiv with marginal repair. Faded librarystamps on plates and title page.
Rare first folio edition,
"This work made a modest first appearance in 1694 as an octavo, but Cowper worked until his death on a new edition, which was finally published posthumously under the supervision and at the expense of Richard Mead (1673-1754). This sumptuous folio with engravings after Rubens and Raphael, and an ingenious set of historiated initials ranks among the most artistic anatomical atlases of the period" (G&M, 392.1).
Fine copy of one of the most beautiful atlases of the 18th century.
references: Garrison-Morton [392.1].
