Atlas of Human Anatomy and Surgery: The Complete Coloured Plates of 1831-1854 (25th Anniversary Special Edtn) [Hardcover]

J M Bourgery (Author), N H Jacob (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008 | ISBN-10: 3836508656 | ISBN-13: 978-3836508650 | Edition: 25th

We owe a great debt to Jean Baptiste Marc Bourgery (1797 1849) for his Atlas of Anatomy, which was not only a massive event in medical history, but also remains one of the most comprehensive and beautifully illustrated anatomical treatises ever published in any language. In 1830, having received his doctorate in medicine three years prior, Bourgery began work on his magnificent atlas in cooperation with illustrator Nicolas Henri Jacob (1782 1871). The first volumes were published the following year, but completion of the treatise required nearly two decades of dedication.

The four parts of Bourgery's treatise cover descriptive anatomy, surgical anatomy and techniques, general anatomy and embryology, and microscopic anatomy. Jacob's spectacular hand-colored, life-size lithographs are remarkable for their clarity, color, and aesthetic appeal, reflecting a combination of direct laboratory observation and illustrative research; the images are to this day unsurpassed in anatomical illustration.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a magnificent addition to the TASCHEN facsimile reprints. Highly recommended for all those curious about the history of surgery." - Forteantimes, London"

About the Author

Jean-Marie Le Minor qualified as a doctor of medicine (MD) in Paris in 1989, having already gained a PhD in Paris in 1987. He has been assistant professor of anatomy at the Louis Pasteur University in Strasbourg since 1990, radiologist at the University Hospitals in Strasbourg, member of the governing board of the Société Française d'Histoire de la Médecine, Laureat of the Académie Nationale de Médecine (Paris, 2003), and officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (French Ministry of Culture). He is also the author of several historical books, including Histoire des sciences morphologiques médicales à Strasbourg du XVe au XXe siècle (2002) and numerous articles on science and history.

Henri Sick qualified as a doctor of medicine (MD) in Strasbourg in 1963. He was professor of anatomy at the Louis Pasteur University in Strasbourg from 1972 to 2003 and director of the Institute of Normal Anatomy from 1994 to 2003. He is an officer of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (French Ministry of Education) and the author of several books on sectional anatomy, including Atlas of sectional human anatomy (1982), Imaging anatomy of the knee region (1988), and Atlas of slices of the temporal bone and adjacent region (1988), as well as numerous scientific articles.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: TASCHEN America Llc; 25th edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3836508656
• ISBN-13: 978-3836508650
• Product Dimensions: 15 x 11 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #860,986 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Taschen, Fat Possum, Criterion: These Guys Have All My Money, December 17, 2005

By 

Tome Raider (California, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Atlas of Human Anatomy and Surgery (Hardcover)

I don't have any particular interest in anatomy, although I do like to do a little of my own research when some body part is misbehaving. This massive book will certainly assist in the future...it has to be the gold-standard of anatomy books. And Taschen has done yet another magnificent job producing one of these major historic works. Folks, this book is staggering, in both size and quality. It is HUGE (perhaps four times the size of an average "coffee-table book") and heavy and beautifully produced: Cloth-bound cover, incredible paper quality, magnificent color reproduction...and enormous scope. Page after page of....well, blood and guts, assorted organs, skeletons, bones and skulls.

But that's what we're made of, and even though I maybe got a little nauseous by page 700, it was an amazing voyage through the human body. And even though these plates are well over a hundred years old, I presume we have not evolved so much that anything here is outdated or obsolete. Bottom-line: if you have the slightest interest in anatomy, you MUST buy this book. This is an heirloom quality edifice.

I should also mention that if you have friends or family who are medical students, doctors, or some other type of "medical professional," or athletic trainer, this might be the best gift you could give them. Not only will they enjoy it from an aesthetic perspective, they may use it on occasion in the course of their work. This thing seems like it might be really useful for anyone trying to visualize a region of the body. And there is an extensive section dedicated to various (perhaps outdated) surgical techniques and medical apparatus.

Taschen does it yet again. I see Taschen as being to books as Criterion is to DVDs and Fat Possum is to music. These companies lovingly excavate these lost or unknown treasures and present them for all of us to enjoy in an ultra-high quality package. This may not be good for my savings account but my bookshelves are a cultural treasure trove.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEWARE! There are two different editions with a similar title!, January 16, 2009

By 

William Hardy (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Atlas of Human Anatomy and Surgery: The Complete Coloured Plates of 1831-1854 (25th Anniversary Special Edtn) (Hardcover)

When looking at the reviews and deciding if you want this book, bear in mind that the huge, linen-bound 2005 edition is probably the one everyone is raving about. It is out of print and goes for about $300 these days. The currently available 25th Anniversary "Special Edition" from 2008 is considerably shorter and more affordably produced, but it will not have quite the same impact or collector value. Just watch those pub. dates and price ranges, folks!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very heavy and amazing, October 28, 2007

By 

Kevin M. Brennan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Atlas of Human Anatomy and Surgery (Hardcover)

I was astounded at the sheer size of this book. As a medical illustrator/animator and anatomy book collector, this is one of my favorites, but it is a bit cumbersome if being stored on a bookshelf (it comes with its own cardboard carrying case). It can definitely be used as a coffee table book; but I would advise against letting people leaf through the surgery section if they are eating....
I was however; very disappointed that the labels had been removed. Also, some of the pages in the introduction are in french and german. Nonetheless, I can highly recommend this book if it not being used as a reference text, not only for it thoroughness, but the beauty of its artwork and the uniqueness of its style.