1841-1843. Two text volumes, 8vo, (Vol. II a wide-margined copy, 257mm x 175mm and 280mm x 182mm) and folio atlas in two parts; pp. xxx, 302; pp. 361, [3] blank, [364] -368; ATLAS: pp. [74] and with 66 large and finely engraved plates, in two parts, pp. [39-40] second title-page ‘Parte Artificiali, dated 1843; sporadic faint dampstaining affecting upper margins of Vol. I, a little more prominent from pp. 290 to the end, but otherwise crisp and bright, with two loosely inserted contemporary notes, Vol. II with some occasional foxing and marginal soiling, atlas some text offsetting visible on title-page from other title-pages, with evidence of previous attempts to remove, text and plates with some offsetting, foxing and light soiling throughout, but generally bright, outer margins of plates 10, 26 and 63 with some more prominent dust-soiling and some marginal tearing; a mixed set, Vol. I in contemporary green half cloth over pink marbled boards, spine ruled and lettered in gilt, spine a little rubbed and scuffed with further light surface wear, corners bumped and worn, Vol. II a wide-margined copy, uncut and partially unopened in contemporary sheep-bakced marbled boards, spine ruled and lettered in gilt, inner hinge cracked but holding, head of spine torn with small loss, spine and joints worn and scuffed with small hole at tail of upper joint, corners bumped and worn, atlas in contemporary half morocco over blue paper boards, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, inner hinges repaired, boards somewhat stained and spotted, with some minor loss in places, paper splitting along tail of upper cover, corners bumped and worn. First edition, though a made up mixed set, of a scarce and little known yet comprehensive and most attractively illustrated theoretical and practical obstetrical textbook, by the Sicilian obstetrician Giovanni Raffaele (1804-1882), and probably the most important and exhaustive Italian work on the subject of the day.
Professor of obstetrics at Napoli, the work was published over two years, and covers ‘Dei parti naturali e dell’ igiene loro conveniente’, and ‘Dei travagli laboriosi e delle cure che loro convengono’. The 66 fine and precise engravings have been executed by a number of engravers, and in addition to highlighting various pelvises, numerous different presentations, also illustrate a variety of gynaecological and obstetrical instruments, with the final five plates also depicting the use of forceps.
The work is scarce, and of three complete sets previously handled, two were also mixed sets.