The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus
Birmingham, AL: The Classics of Medicine Library, 1984. Limited edition. Hardcover. Folio. XXIV, 596pp (Text), 8 leaves of plates. Original gilt-stamped green leather with gold lettering on spine. Raised bands. Marbled endpapers. Ribbon marker. Publisher's booklet laid in. Exquisite edition of this Ancient Egyptian medical text which is also the oldest known surgical treatise on trauma. It dates to Dynasties 16-17 of the Second Intermediate Period in Ancient Egypt, ca. 1500 BCE. The Edwin Smith papyrus is unique among the four principal medical papyri in existence that survive today. While other papyri, such as the Ebers Papyrus and London Medical Papyrus, are medical texts based in magic, the Edwin Smith Papyrus presents a rational and scientific approach to medicine in Ancient Egypt, in which medicine and magic do not conflict. Magic would be more prevalent had the cases of illness been mysterious, such as internal disease. Binding and interior in very good condition. vg. Item #32792
Price: $150.00