Very good condition with expected age-related wear. Light edge wear and minor handling marks are present, consistent with its age, but overall the piece remains well-preserved and structurally sound.
This historically significant Japanese medical work, Kaitai Shinsho (解体新書, “New Book of Anatomy”), was first published in 1774 (An’ei 3) during the late Edo period. It represents the first full-scale Japanese translation of a Western anatomical text, marking a major turning point in the introduction of Western science (Rangaku) to Japan.
Compiled primarily by Sugita Genpaku, with contributions from Maeno Ryōtaku and Nakagawa Jun’an, the book was translated from a Dutch edition of Johann Adam Kulmus’s Anatomische Tabellen. Its publication played a critical role in advancing medical knowledge in Japan and bridging Eastern and Western scientific traditions.
A landmark work in both Japanese and global medical history, Kaitai Shinsho is highly regarded for its cultural and academic importance. An essential piece for collectors of early Japanese books, medical history, or Edo-period scholarship.
