HARVEY, Gideon (c.1640-c.1700). The Disease of London: or a New Discovery of the Scorvey, London, 1675, 8vo, ornaments, contemporary calf. Provenance: From the Collection of John Yudkin (bookplate). FIRST EDITION. Wing H1063. RARE.

HARVEY, Gideon (c.1640-c.1700).  The Disease of London: or a New Discovery of the Scorvey. Comprizing The Nature, Manifold Differences, various Causes, Signs, Prognostics, Chronology, and several Methods of Curing the said Disease by Remedies, both Galenical, and Chymical, together with Anatomical Observations, and Discourses on Convulsions, Palsies, Apoplexies, Rheumatisms, Gouts, Malignant Fevors, and Small Pox. London: "Printed by T. James, for W. Thackery, at the Angel in Duck-Lane," 1675. 8vo (169 x 104mm). "The Epistle Dedicatory" to King Charles II, woodcut typographical ornaments (many errors to the pagination and signatures, not affecting completeness: for example, page numbers 49-50 and 59-68 are omitted, page numbers 65 and 66 are duplicated, with incorrect catchword on the first page 66, with much confusion to the page numbering after p.260, p.268 and p.278, signature F2 erroneously signed G2, but, despite these irregularities, the work collates complete with the sense continuous and correct catchwords (except where indicated), dark spots on G3, [Q5] and [Q7], some marginal wormtracks not affecting letters). Contemporary calf ruled in blind (some repairs to the joints, small split and patch of wear to the upper cover, inner hinges split). Provenance: From the Collection of Professor John Yudkin (modern bookplate; please see the biographical note at the end of lot 308); "Mr Humphries" (old signature on the front free endpaper); old bookseller's pencil notes on the front pastedown. FIRST EDITION. The title page describes the author as "M.D. Physician in Ordinary to His Majesty, and in the Time of the Rebellion, Fellow of the College of Physicians at the Hague." This, and the effusive nature of "The Epistle Dedicatory", reveal him as a keen Royalist. He seems to have been a controversial and irascible figure, and was not afraid to satirise his peers. "Harvey was a man of some education and a copious writer, but his works have no scientific value, and are disfigured by personalities as well as by undignified attempts to gain popularity ... [His] works have, however, the merit of a lively and witty style, though the humour is often very rough. They reflect light on medical customs and persons of the time, and these have some historical value" (DNB). Not in Garrison & Morton; Wing H1063. RARE.