De Humani Corporis Fabrica

Title: De Humani Corporis Fabrica
Description: This book was written by Andreas Vesalius, a 16th-century physician recognized as one of the founders of modern human anatomy. Originally published as seven books, this medical atlas on human anatomy is based on Vesalius’ Paduan lectures, during which he broke convention by dissecting a corpse to demonstrate what he was discussing. (At the time, dissection was considered a kind of manual labor beneath a doctor of medicine.) This was made even more controversial by the Church’s 16th-century ban on dissection—driving Vesalius to have to secretly take the bodies of executed criminals for his demonstrations. More than 700 copies of the 16th-century manuscripts remain, including one held at the John Hay Library at Brown University bound in tanned human skin. This edition is a collected volume, with facsimile printed in Latin.
Creator: Vesalius, Andreas, 1514-1564
Date: 1543 [original text published]; 1964 [facsimile published]
Format: 28.4cm x 41.9cm x 6.7cm
Identifier: f QM25 V575 (1543) 1964
Publisher: Culture et Civilisation (Brussels, BE)
Type: Book
Original Format: Book
Tag: 16th-century physicians; 16th-century texts; Belgian physicians; Facsimiles