CELSUS, Aurelius Cornelius (25 BC-50 AD). De medicina. Florence: Niccolò di Lorenzo della Magna, 1478. Editio princeps of the oldest Western work on medicine surviving after the writings of Hippocrates, extremely scarce on the market, with only two passages at auction in the last 30 years (RBH). It is one of the earliest medical books printed in typeset. The eight books of Celsus' De Medicina, originally part of a larger encyclopaedic work (now lost) entitled Artes, represent the largest medical treatise of ancient Rome, compiled in the 1st century AD. The work is divided into two sections: the first deals with diseases treatable by diet and regimen, while the second focuses on those treatable by drugs and surgery. The first part contains early references to diseases such as insanity and heart disease, while the surgical section includes early accounts of the use of bandages, descriptions of procedures such as lateral lithotomy and herniotomy, as well as the first discussion of the repair of mutilations, anticipating the modern concept of plastic surgery. One of the earliest printed works on medicine and a milestone for ancient medical knowledge. 4to, (270 x 198mm). Spaces reserved for initials with guide letters (missing index of 6 leaves and 2 blank leaves, spotting, waterstains to upper margin of leaves and inner margin of last 3 leaves weakened, chipping to last 3 leaves weakened, woodworm path to inner margin of some leaves without affecting text). 18th century vellum binding, blue edges (trimmed, some wear and chipping). Provenance: several old notes (sometimes trimmed) and the note '1624 ; 1478 = 146' in the colophon indicating the time elapsed since the printing date in 1624.. (1)