AVICENNE De Balneis, omnia quae extant apud Graecos, Latinos, et Arabas, tam medicos quam quoscumque ceterarum artium probatos scriptores…

Garrison-Morton, 1986 (“it gives an extensive history of balneology and an exact description of all the then known watering-places”) ; NLM, 1101 ; Norman, 113 ; Wellcome I, 652.

First edition.

This collection brings together the writings of more than 70 authors, including Avicenna, Averroes, Avenzohar, Gesner, Savonarola, Petrus de Abano, Maimonides, Agricola, Hippocrates, Galen, etc.

‘It gives an extensive history of balneology and an exact description of all the then known watering-places (about two hundred)’ (Garrison-Morton).

The volume is illustrated with several woodcuts, including one depicting the Plombière baths in the Vosges, and full-page maps ; attractive historiated initials.

The last section, “3q”, with pages 489-497, contains the supplement by Antonius Siccu.

“The most complete collection of early writings on balneology, incorporating writings and extracts from over seventy classical, Arabic and modern authorities including Aristotle, ibn Sina, Celsus, Gesner, Galen, Hippocrates, Agricola, Petrus de Albano, Massa, Pliny, Savonarola and Vitruvius. Signature 3q, containing Johannes Antonius Siccu’s De balneis compendium ex Hippocrate et Galeno appears to have been added as an extra sheet while the book was in press” (Norman).

Good copy, complete with the last quire, which is not found in all copies.

Old handwritten annotations; two tears repaired on the title page, minor worm damage in the margin.