1848 Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co. , Philadelphia. "First American edition from the fourth and greatly improved London edition." There were, however, at least two earlier American printings in 1847 by Wagner & McGuigan and by Thomas, Cowperthwait.
Large quarto bound in a later 19th century full soft sheep with red morocco title label brightly lettered in gilt to spine. Soundly bound with contents complete, including the subscriber's list at front and the single page ad at rear. Including the tissue guarded frontis there are 21 full page lithograhped plates, most with mechanical overlays and hand colored and with tissue guards. At least one plate has a tissue guard integral between the colored overlay leaves. Table I. B. - one of the non overlay lithographs with 4 figures of the pelvis - had apparently come loose from the book and has some light furring at the edges; it is reinserted on a heavier paper stub in what appears to be a repair from some decades ago. The front edge of the plate was also backed with a heavier paper strip to reinforce a short closed tear in the front margin. All the overlays are present and in very good handling order with only light evidence of use and prior viewing at the folds. The only tissue guard missing is for the reinserted plate I. B. Tissue guard for the frontis lithograph is well foxed with some offset foxing to the title page. Surface of lithographs are generally bright and clean, though the blank reverse side of many plates are foxed with some offset foxing and toning to the facing page of text. Bookplates of two prior owners mounted to front pastedown - Mrs. Elliot Colburn Low and Leonard J. Schiff. Binding sound but some early tenderness in the front hinge to the top few inches of the external joint. Leather with mild surface furring at front edges and a shallow surface abrasion rear board adjacent to the tail. Altogether a rather well preserved example of this extraordinary color plate book on obstetrics and midwifery. VG