Collection: Médecine et pharmacie

Balneology, Mud, and Peloids: Dax, Tercis, Saint-Christau (1883-1950)

Monographs on the waters and muds of Dax form the core of the collection. Le Péloïde de Dax: Origine et formation (The Peloid of Dax: Origin and Formation) (R. Massy and H. Delfour, Imprimerie E. Larrat, Dax, 20th century) is the best-documented example: the copy bears an autographed dedication signed by one of the co-authors.Le Péloïde de Dax: Origine et formationDr. Camille Massier's L’Étude sur les Eaux Thermales de Tercis, près Dax (Study on the Thermal Waters of Tercis, near Dax) (Toulouse, Ch. Dirion, 1914) is noted as a rare book, an example of what Landes thermal medicine produced outside of major Parisian printing houses.Étude sur les Eaux Thermales de Tercis, près DaxThe collection's thermal corpus runs from 1883 (Dr. Barthe de Sandfort, Les thermes de Dax devant le corps médical, Bordeaux) to 1950 (collective, Le traitement du rhumatisme chronique à Dax, prefaced by Dr. A. Aparasi-Serres), with several titles signed by Lavielle at its center: Les Justiciables des Boues de Dax (The Litigants of the Dax Muds) (Louis Lavielle fils, 1913), L’Hydrologie du Rhumatisme chronique (The Hydrology of Chronic Rheumatism) (Charles and Louis, 1912) and Dax médical et thermal (Dax Medical and Thermal) (Louis and René). Les eaux ferro-cuivreuses de Saint-Christau (The Ferro-Cuprous Waters of Saint-Christau) (Basses-Pyrénées, Paris, Delahaye et Lecrosnier, 1885) expands the thermal scope towards the Pyrenees.

We build this collection according to three criteria: regional coherence (South-West thermal region), documented provenance (autographed dedications, enriched copies), and general condition. Three items in the collection bear an autographed dedication: Le Péloïde de Dax, Lavielle's L’Hydrologie du Rhumatisme chroniqueHydrologie du Rhumatisme chroniqueand the Nouveau dictionnaire lexicographique et descriptif des sciences médicales et vétérinaires (New Lexicographical and Descriptive Dictionary of Medical and Veterinary Sciences) (Paris, P. Asselin, 1863, publisher's dedication). It is this argument of provenance, verifiable with the item in hand, that we defend in any appraisal, in the spirit of the ethics of SLAM and LILA. We offer a free appraisal for any lot or ancient medical library.

Bilz, La nouvelle médication naturelle (The New Natural Medication) (Paris, F.E. Bilz, 1900), translated from German, a widely disseminated work in late 19th-century hygienist circles, represents the hygienist axis of the collection. The Vade-Mecum du vétérinaire (Veterinarian's Vade-Mecum) (H. Mollereau and Ch. Porcher, Paris, Asselin & Houzeau, 5th ed., 1917) and the 1863 dictionary of medical and veterinary sciences bridge the gap with animal medicine.

The value depends on the edition (original or later), the condition, and the provenance. A signed autographed dedication, such as on our Lavielle's Hydrologie du Rhumatisme chronique (1912), significantly increases its interest. As members of SLAM and LILA, we offer a free appraisal for any old medical work.

Yes, especially 19th and early 20th-century monographs printed in small runs outside of Paris. Dr. Massier's L’Étude sur les Eaux Thermales de Tercis (1914) is, for example, noted as a rare book. Regional coherence and documentary rarity are the two criteria that collectors and specialized libraries consider.

Yes. We handle successions, relocations, or dispersal of medical libraries, regardless of volume. Contact us for an appraisal appointment: free and confidential appraisal, with a written report if necessary.

Systematically, if authenticated. A dedication from the author to a named colleague, or from the publisher to an identifiable recipient, creates an irreplaceable chain of provenance. Of the three copies in our collection that bear one, the provenance is visible and mentioned in the description. This collection is part of our ancient sciences, alongside ourancient trade manuals, ourancient marine booksand ourancient physics books.