HARVEY, William.

1] De Motu Cordis & Sanguinis in Animalibus, Anatomica Exercitatio. Cum refutationibus Aemylii Parisani et Jacobi Primrosii. Lugduni Batavorum [Leiden]: Ex officina Joannis Maire, 1639. [Bound with, as issued:][2] ASELLI, Gaspare. De Lactibus, sive lacteinis venis, quarto vasorum mesaraicorum genere, novo invento Lugduni Batavorum [Leiden]: Ex officinâ Joannis Maire, 1640. [And:][3] PRIMEROSE, James. Antidotum adversus Henrici Regii Spongiam. Lugduni Batavorum [Leiden]: Ex officina Joannis Maire, 1644.

      Lugduni Batavorum [Leiden]: Ex officina Joannis Maire, 1639. - 3 works in 1 volume, 4to, pp. (viii), 267, 84, 2 engraved plates; (viii), 104, (8), 4 engraved plates; 51. First title soiled, and some minor soiling elsewhere (mostly in the upper margin), corner of 2 leaves and upper margins of 3 plates carefully restored affecting portion of ruled border of 1 plate only. Contemporary calf, spine and corners neatly repaired, endpapers replaced, bookplate on front pastedown. Preserved in a fine full green morocco slipcase and cloth chemise. [1] Second complete edition of the book that announced the discovery and experimental proof of the circulation of the blood, the most important book in the history of medicine. Harvey?s work fundamentally changed concepts about the heart and blood vessels, leading to a reform of all physiology. This edition has the complete text and illustrations, together with refutations including those of Primerose, who was the first to go into print against Harvey (in 1630). See G&M 759, PMM 127, Dibner 123, Horblit 46, Grolier One Hundred (Medicine) 27A, etc. (the first edition of 1628). Keynes 3.[2] Third edition of the book which announced the discovery of the lacteal vessels, an important milestone in our knowledge of the process of nutrition. See G&M 1094, Lilly, Notable Medical Books, 61, Grolier One Hundred (Medicine) 26, etc. The illustrations are not the large coloured woodcuts, as they appeared only in the first edition, published in 1627.[3] A response by Primerose to the Spongia of Hendrick de Roy, professor of medicine at Utrecht, which defended Harvey?s theory of the circulation. Spongia had in turn been written in response to an attack by Primerose in 1640. Owing to the value and rarity of the first edition, this is the earliest edition of Harvey?s book that most collectors can aspire to own. In 1635 Parisano had published his refutation of Harvey, and included the bulk but not the whole of Harvey?s text in his own book. For the present edition Maire restored the text and illustrations entire, together with Parisano?s refutations, and he took the opportunity, as he says in his note to the reader, to republish another important book, Aselli?s De Lactibus. However, the De Lactibus is not always found bound with the Harvey, as it is here.