Girolamo Mercuriale. Hieronymi Mercurialis, De Arte Gymnastica, Libri Sex:

in quibus exercitationum omnium vetustarum genera, loca, modi, facultates, & quidquid denique ad corporis humani exercitationes pertinent, diligenter explicatur. Secunda editione aucti, & multis figuris ornati. Opus non modo medicis, verumetiam omnibus antiquarum rerum cognoscendarum, & valetudinis conseruandae studiosis admodum utile. Paris, Jacques Du Puys, 1577, (4),201[=200],(13) lvs., 2 fold. floorplans on both sides of leaf 14, 21 full-p. woodcut ills. after Pirro Logorio and 1 smaller woodcut, strictly contemporary richly blindstamped pigskin, frontcover with the central coat-of-arms of Strasbourg (the panel monogrammed "IH") above the date 1578, backcover with a fine large portrait of Christoph, Duke of Württemberg. Both these large panels within double rolled borders incorporating portraits (the inner border monogrammed "SIM" and "RV"), ribbed spine, 4to.

Text block slightly browned throughout, lacks first free endpaper, occas. minor other internal defects. Binding lacks ties, is sl. stained and the upper joint is splitting in lower compartment of spine. A good copy in a very fine, strictly contemporary Renaissance binding. Garrison & Morton, 1986.1; Wellcome, I, 4225. The best-known work of Italian physician and philologist Girolamo Mercuriale (1530-1606), here in third edition. First published in 1569 without ills., the 2nd edition by Giunta in 1573 was the first illustrated one and with that the first illustrated book on gymnastics. "One of the earliest books to discuss the therapeutic value of gymnastics and sports generally for the cure of disease and disability, and an important study of gymnastic in the ancient world." (Garrison & Morton). It is also a history of the attitudes and practices of the Greeks and Romans in regard to diet, hygiene, bathing, and exercise, and their effects on health and disease.