Elimithar (Elluchasem) "Ibn Butlan". Tacuini sanitatis, first edition, Strasbourg, Johann Schott, 1531.

 

Elimithar (Elluchasem) "Ibn Butlan". Tacuini sanitatis, first edition, collation: A-M^? N O? P?, with final blank leaf P6, title printed in red and black, tables and some side-notes printed in red, 40 woodcut strips by Hans Weiditz to foot of leaves, illustrating plants, animals, fruits, cookery, humours, diseases &tc, frequent contemporary underlining and annotation in red and brown inks, some skilful restoration to margins, affecting a few annotations, a few small wormholes within text throughout, some very light browning and occasional faint spotting, some faint marginal damp-staining and soiling, eighteenth century vellum-backed gilt patterned boards, possibly a remboitage, spine darkened and with early ink title to head, lightly rubbed, folio (310 x 200mm.), Strasbourg, Johann Schott, 1531.

*** Rare treatise on health, with delightful woodcuts by Hans Weiditz. Written in the eleventh century, Ibn Butlan's guide to good health, known as 'Taqwim al Sihha' in Arabic, had been circulating in manuscript copies during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries under the Latin title 'Tacuini sanitatis' or 'Tables of Health'. This is the first printed edition. It lays out six elements necessary for good health and avoiding stress: food and drink, air and climate, activity and rest, sleep and wakefulness, the secretion and excretion of humours, and states of mind, i.e. the emotions.

Provenance: Luzerne County Medical Library (ink-stamp to title); "Duplicate, 6/10, 1911. Surgeon General's Library" (ink note to foot of title).

Literature: Adams I11; Cagle 243; Durling 2520; Vicaire 323-325; Simon BB 633; Wellcome 1996.