RUEFF [RÜFF], Jacob (c. 1500–1558)

The first edition illustrated by Jost Amman. Rueff’s book was originally published in 1554 by Froschauer in Zürich. It was written in the German vernacular and was entitled: Ein schön lustig Trostbüchle von den empfengknussen ... zu trost allen gebärenden frouwen. In the same year a Latin edition was published, De conceptu et generatione homini. After Rueff’s death the Frankfurt publisher, Sigmund Feyerabend engaged Jost Amman to reillustrate the book. Amman was a most prolific book illustrator and the new edition with his much superior illustrations was published in 1580 simultaneously with a Latin edition. Amman was one of the most important collaborators at Feyerabend’s press in Frankfurt and the artist of some of the best illustrated German books of the sixteenth century. Jacob Rueff, city physician of Zürich, was responsible for the instruction and examination of the midwives of the canton. He followed the example of Rösslin and in 1554 completed his popular guide for midwives, which next to Rösslin’s Rosengarten became the most important obstetrical work of the Renaissance period, and with Jost Amman’s fine woodcuts it is ranked as one of the most famous illustrated medical books of the sixteenth century. Besides obstetrical woodcuts there are 32 woodcuts of both real and fanciful monsters.

Collation: Pp (8), 259 [mispaginated 249], (5) index. With 73 woodcuts in the text, some fullpage, three repeated. Fine impressions. Title printed in red and black with woodcut of a delivery room.

Binding: Late 19th century vellum-backed marbled boards.

Provenance: Gunnar Hansell (Malmö, 1934), physician and collector of old medical books.

References: For the Latin ed. 1554: Garrison-Morton 6141; Cutter & Veits, pp 188-90; Still, History of Paediatrics, pp 84-93; Becker, Jobst Amman, Zeichner und Formschneider, Kupferätzer und Stecher (1854, repr. 1961), No. 30; Facsimile edition in Medicina Rara Series; Hellman 30-31 (Latin ed. 1580 and German ed. 1587). Waller 8305.