ACREL, Olof af (1717-1806)

The second edition, considerably enlarged with 278 more pages and now for the first time illustrated with 11 engraved plates, not found in the first edition (1759). Acrel’s Chirurgiska Händelser (Surgical Cases) is his most important work. Here Acrel gives a clear idea of the position of surgery at the Seraphimer Hospital in Stockholm and communicates many interesting cases that are extremely illustrative of the methods of contemporary surgery. This book was translated both into German and Dutch. The present copy is one of the finest in existence of this classic. It is Acrel’s presentation copy to Collegium Medicum with a five line long inscription by him on the blank page opposite title. It is printed on extra fine watermarked paper of exceptional thickness making this volume nearly twice as thick as a normal copy. Olof af Acrel has been honoured with the designation “The Father of Swedish Surgery”. In 1752, when the Seraphimer Hospital was established in Stockholm, Acrel became its first chief surgeon and held that post for nearly half a century. He maintained his private practice until his death in 1806, at the age of 88. The book was printed by Henric Fougt (1720-1782) in the modern Roman type (antiqua), which gradually came to replace the then prevalent German fraktur in Sweden. In the same year he printed another book of medical interest: the first edition of Pharmacopoea Svecica. Henric Fougt, a former pupil of Linnaeus, came to play an epoch-making role in the history of printing in Sweden. He had improved Breitkopf’s method of printing music with moveable types instead of engraved plates and went in 1767 to England, where he obtained a patent for his invention. In 1770 he returned to Stockholm and established himself as a bookprinter. From England he had imported a new Baskerville typeface, a variant cut by Isaac Moore, and introduced this classic typeface into Sweden.

Collation: Pp [22], 650, [25]. With 11 folding engraved plates, drawn and engraved by Fredr. Acrel, O. Årre and C. Bergqvist. (A twelfth plate was added to the 1777 German edition). H 4 wrongly numbered H 3 F f 4 wrongly numbered F f Q q 2 wrongly numbered Q q 3

Binding: Contemporary polished calf with five raised bands, richly gilt spine with red spine label, gilt lettering.

Provenance: Gilt stamp on front cover: Kongl. Wetenskaps Academien.