Antique 1854 Medical Textbook: First Book on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene
By Calvin Cutter, M.D.
Published by J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia
Revised Stereotype Edition | 191 Pages | Measures Approx. 7 1/2" x 5 1/4"
Historical Provenance & Philadelphia Interest
This specific volume is a remarkable artifact of 19th-century American public education, boasting unique local provenance.
The table of contents page features an authentic, original antique ink ownership stamp that reads:
"Property of the Board of Education - 1st School District Penn."
The "First School District of Pennsylvania" was the historic legal designation for the Philadelphia Public School system during the 1800s. This stamp connects beautifully with a worn, vintage paper ex-libris card still attached to the front endpaper from the Board of Public Education Philadelphia. Though later marked over by school administrators with a black sharpie, these markings ground the book in its genuine mid-1800s institutional history.
Book Features & Binding Details
- Cover Aesthetic: Bound in handsome dark brown/black antique cloth-covered hardcover boards.
- Premium Spine: Features a black leather spine embellished with an elegant embossed decorative design. The title is uniquely displayed on a gold-gilded ribbon banner wrapped around a central figure.
- Marbled Edges: Features a premium touch of the era with distinctive three-sided marbled page edges (top, bottom, and fore-edge).
- Illustrations: Lavishly illustrated throughout with high-quality, historical black and white scientific woodcut engravings detailing human skeletal structures, muscles, and organs.
- Back Matter & End Materials: Includes a comprehensive Appendix detailing historical emergency medical procedures, including a list of poisons and their direct antidotes, and the 19th-century method for "distinguishing death from asphyxia." Also contains a full Glossary, text Index, and a Key to the Anatomical Outline Plates.
Detailed Condition Report (Very Good Antique Condition)
This book has survived beautifully for being over 170 years old and remains an excellent, highly displayable addition to any medical history or antiquarian library.
- Binding: Excellent, tight, and completely square binding. The text block is structurally stable and very secure. No loose or missing pages.
- Exterior Wear: Light, expected shelfwear to the cloth-covered boards, primarily concentrated around the corners and outer edges. The black leather spine shows light wear, mainly at the top and bottom edges, but the gold ribbon and embossed design remain visible and attractive.
- Page 122 Margin Defect: The top outer corner of Page 122 has been cleanly cut off (historically clipped, likely to clean up an old dog-ear fold). Crucially, this does not touch or compromise the printed text block.
- Markings & Provenance: As noted above, the vintage Philadelphia Board of Education ex-libris card on the front endpaper has black sharpie markings over the text. A previous owner's name on the first cover page has also been crossed out with a sharpie.
- Penciling: There are early pencil notations on the two pages preceding the frontispiece, with very light, sparse pencil marks scattered occasionally throughout the text blocks.
- Paper Condition: Clean and crisp pages overall with only occasional light, age-related foxing and staining that does not compromise the legibility of the text or the clarity of the illustrations.
Shipping & Packaging Note
This book will be packed with the utmost care, wrapped securely in protective bubble wrap, and shipped in a sturdy box to preserve its antique binding. Shipped via trackable USPS Media Mail.
Please review all high-resolution photos carefully to evaluate the exterior edge wear, page 122 corner clip, and sharpie provenance marks before bidding or purchasing. Feel free to message me with any questions!