The Canon of Medicine by Ibn Sina – Naples, 1491-1492 – Incunable – Five Volumes – Only Edition

The Canon of Medicine by Ibn Sina – Naples, 1491-1492 – Incunable – Five Volumes – Only Edition

The Canon of Medicine, Hebrew translation of the medical encyclopedia by the Muslim physician and philosopher Ibn Sina. [Naples: Azriel son of Joseph Ashkenazi Gunzenhauser, 1491-1492]. Only Hebrew edition. Five volumes.
The Canon of Medicine (HaKanon HaGadol, originally: al-Qānūn fī al-Ṭibb) – monumental medical encyclopedia compiled by the Muslim physician and philosopher Ibn Sina (Avicenna; 980-1037) in the 11th century. The work is divided into five books, and includes an in-depth overview of the human body, the causes of various ailments and possible methods of treatment (with extensive description of medical substances).
The book was translated into many languages, and for centuries served as the main textbook for the study of medicine in Europe. Most of the work was translated to Hebrew by R. Nathan of Cento (HaMe'ati), yet the first book and presumably several sections of other books were translated by R. Zerachia son of Yitzchak of Barcelona and R. Yosef son of Yehoshua of Lorca (Lorki). The Canon is known to have had on impact on Torah scholars – see Hebrew sidebar.
Square script, in two columns. Date of printing according to colophon (lacking in present copy), originally found at end of second volume.
Many glosses (some trimmed) in cursive Sephardic script, by several writers, and many inscriptions, in all volumes. Contents of the glosses include commentaries and translations, emendations, additions and novellae.
Signatures of R. Shmuel Heller (rabbi of Safed) in two places in vol. II.
Five volumes. Altogether [438] leaves. Originally: [480] leaves. Lacking 42 leaves.
Vol. I (Book I): [57] leaves. Lacking 13 leaves (originally: [70] leaves). Collation: ii-viii8 (lacking [1] unnumbered 4-leaf gathering, including one blank leaf, and lacking gathering i of 8 leaves), ix1 (lacking final blank leaf).
Vol. II (Book II): [55] leaves. Lacking 21 leaves (originally: [76] leaves). Collation: [1]1 (lacking leaves 1-2, 4-6 (leaf 6 blank), i7 (lacking final leaf), ii-iii8, iv7 (lacking leaf 2), v5 (lacking leaves 4-5 and 8), vi6 (lacking first and last leaves), vii3 (lacking leaves 2-6), viii6 (lacking leaves 3-4), ix4 (lacking final two leaves).
Vol. III (Book III): [188] leaves. Lacking 6 leaves (originally: [194] leaves). Collation: [1]7 (lacking leaf 1 – blank), i10, ii-viii8 (first leaf of gathering iii bound out of sequence, after leaf 7), ix4 (lacking leaves 3-6), x-xxii8 (first leaf of gathering xii possibly supplied from a different copy), xxiii7 (lacking final blank leaf).
Vol. IV (Book IV): [96] leaves. Complete. Collation: [1]6, i-x8, xi6, xii4. First four and final two leaves of volume possibly supplied from a different copy.
Vol. V (Book V): [42] leaves. Originally: [44] leaves. Lacking 2 leaves. Collation: [1]7 (lacking first blank leaf), i-iv8, v3 (lacking final leaf).
All lacking leaves of text were replaced in photocopy (final leaf of vol. V replaced in handwriting as well, on separate leaf). 28.5-29.5 cm. Some volumes wide-margined. Condition varies. Vols. I and III in good-fair condition. Vols. II, IV and V in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Vol. IV with many dampstains and traces of past dampness to final leaves. Traces of past dampness and mold to some leaves of vols. II and V. Wear. Worming affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. Extensive worming to some leaves of vols. III and IV. Tears, including open tears affecting text, repaired with paper (many open tears to vol. II; missing text on several leaves replaced in photocopy). In various places (particularly in vol. IV but also in other places), large marginal open tears repaired with paper (these leaves may have been supplied from other copies). New bindings (matching). Slipcased.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.