Specimen of a Historical and Critical Library of Rare Physical and Medical Books

An ornate rectangular woodcut headpiece features symmetrical acanthus leaf scrolls and floral patterns, centered around a vase-like motif overflowing with flowers.

Since I have seen that the commentary on Cosmas and Damian Christian martyrs often invoked as patrons of physicians, which I recently dedicated to you on your birthday, was not ungrateful to you, my father-in-law, to be honored eternally with all piety; I conceive the most certain hope that you will receive with a serene brow this First Specimen of a Library of Rare Physico-Medical Books, which I offer to you with every sign of respect. This duty is demanded of me, and those new honors with which I see you adorned demand it by their own right. For your highest and exceptional merits, which exist in every literary matter, but especially in medicine and natural science, have penetrated not only Germany—