pdf - Roger Gaskell Rare Books

Provenance: Old signature on printed titlepage scored through.
First edition. Keynes 34; Wing H1091; ESTC R17816;
Garrison–Morton 467; Norman Library 1011.
Harvey’s second great contribution to physiology, this is one of
the classics of embryology. The problem of generation was a much
more diYcult one than the circulation of the blood. It occupied
Harvey for most of his life and in the end it was not susceptible to a
full solution in his time. The great contributions of this book were
however of huge signiWcance. Harvey’s doctrine that every living
thing comes from an egg; his insistence on epigenesis as opposed
to preformation of the embryo; and his rejection of spontaneous
generation are only three of the ten of Harvey’s achievements in this
book identiWed by Needham (History of Embryology, pp. 149–50).
In addition, the last part of the book is a treatise on gynaecology
and obstetrics drawing on Harvey’s own practice which though
celebrated in Herbert Spencer’s 1921 Harveian Oration, seems to
have been little discussed since then.
The famous and often reproduced engraved title, unsigned
but attributed to Richard Gaywood (c. 1630–1680), shows the
Wgure of Jove taking the top oV a large egg, out of which escape a
Xurry of small creatures. On the egg is the legend Ex ovo omnia,
everything from an egg, the central pillar of Harvey’s theory of
generation. It was probably Gaywood who also etched a portrait
of Harvey that was originally intended for the book but which
was suppressed before publication. (On the etched titlepage and
portrait see Keynes, Life of Harvey, pp. 332–334 and plates XXVIII
and XXIX.)
85
HARVEY, William (1578–1657)
Anatomical exercitations, concerning the generation of living
creatures: to which are added particular discourses, of births,
conceptions, &c.
London: printed by James Young, for Octavian Pulleyn, and are to be sold
at his shop at the sign of the Rose in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1653.
8vo: A 8 (–A1, blank) a 8 8 B–2N 8 (–2N8, blank), 302 of 304 leaves, pp.
[46] 551 562–566 [2] (errata on 2N7, verso blank).
Engraved frontispiece showing a bust of Harvey, signed ‘W: F: fec’
supplied from a later impression on heavy paper (probably
Wellcome, Portraits 1312.9, described as an eighteenth­century
impression from the original plate).
164 x 100mm. Titlepage soiled and frayed in the margins; piece torn
from fore margin of C1 touching a few letters; one or two headlines
shaved; waterstained; overall light browning and soiling.
Binding: Contemporary panelled calf. Rebacked, headcap rubbed,
corners worn.