BOURGEOIS, Louise. Observations diverses sur la stérilité, p - Lot 173

BOURGEOIS, Louise. Observations diverses sur la stérilité, perte de fruicts, foecondité, accouchements, et maladies des femmes et enfants nouveaux naiz amplement traitées heureusement praticquées. Published in Paris by Melchior Mondiere in 1642. In-12 bound in full vellum, titles handwritten in pen on the spine. Some foxing, foxing. A few traces of restoration in the margins of some pages. Reunion of several works by Louise Bourgeois dite Boursier, midwife to Marie de Médicis. A pioneer in obstetrics, she gave birth to the future Louis XIII: she is known to have performed over 2,000 deliveries. Unfortunately, she fell from grace when Marie de Bourbon-Montpensier died in childbirth in 1627. This volume contains the three books of her "Observations", bound in the wrong order (book one, third (1626) then second). This is followed by "Récit véritable de la naissance de messeigneurs et dames les enfans de France", 1642, and "Recueil des secrets de Louis Bourgeois dite Boursier, sage-femme de la Royne Mère du Roy, auquel sont contenues ses plus rares expériences pour diverses Maladies, principalement des Femmes, avec leurs Embelissements", 1635. A fine collection of these major works in the history of obstetrics. 9 ff.n.ch., 235 pp. (error in publisher's pagination from 232 to 235, pages 19 to 30 replaced by photocopies), 5 p. ; 3 ff.n.ch., 69 pp., 3 p. ; 2 ff.n.ch, 108 pp. ; pages 111 to 251, 5 p. ; 4 ff.n.ch., 224 pp. (pages 225 and 226 replaced by photocopies). 1 frontispiece, two portraits.