Kaitai hatsumo [Explanation of Human Anatomy] by MITANI, Soshu

Many fine woodcuts printed in color. Five vols. 8vo, orig. patterned wrappers, orig. block-printed title labels on upper covers, orig. stitching. Tokyo: Sawada Ken, 1930. The very fine facsimile edition of this important anatomical work, first published in 1813, which collects the records of three dissections performed in Kyoto in 1783, 1798, and 1802. The author explains them based on theories of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine. "A Japanese treatise on anatomy and anatomical dissection in five volumes was published in 1813 by Shoshui or Boku or Koki Mitani (1774-1823) with the title Kaitai hatsumo...[it] appears, however, to be the first Japanese exposition on the whole system of human anatomy, based upon original observation (including dissection) and knowledge of other anatomical works...This work was of sufficient historical importance to be entirely reprinted in a facsimile edition as recently as 1930."-Mestler, A Galaxy of Old Japanese Medical Books with Miscellaneous Notes on Early Medicine in Japan, Part I, pp. 316-18. This edition contains two valuable modern prefaces on the history and importance of this book. Fine set, preserved in a chitsu. Rare; WorldCat locates only one copy in North America.