Caroli Wittesteyn, seu a Petra Alba, Placentini vera totius medicinae forma

8vo (174x107 mm). [32], 367, [17] pp. Collation: *-**⁸, A-Z⁸, a⁸. Printer's device on the title page. Contemporary cardboards (worn and rubbed, restauration to the upper outer corner of the front panel). Bookplate and ownership entry “J.J. Ballard Doc. Med. Par.”. Tear to the lower margin of l. *8 with no loss, some marginal staining on a few leaves.

First edition, dedicated to Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza and Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, of this systematic treatise on medicine, offering what Wittesteyn regarded as the proper or “true form” of medicine. It contains chapters on the causes of the diseases, symptoms, omens, and health, incuding advice on food and wine.

Carl Wittesteyn, also known with the Italian name of Carlo Pietralba, was a physician who practised for a certain period in Piacenza before entering the service of Margaret of Austria. He is also known for a work on alchemy and the quinta essentia, which was published at Basel in 1583 (Disceptatio philosophica de quinta chymicorum essentia).

Italian Union Catalogue, IT\ICCU\RLZE\016951; Voet, 2492; Adams, W-224.

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