Autograph letter signed

Autograph letter signed to an unidentified correspondent (possibly the publishing firm of Cadell & Davies). London, n.d. [1797?]. 160 x 183 mm. Mounted. Small repair slightly affecting one word, but very good otherwise.

From British surgeon John Abernethy, author of the first classification of tumors based on pathologic anatomy (Garrison-Morton.com 13225) and the first to ligate the external iliac artery for aneurysm (Garrison-Morton.com 2928). Abernethy's letter refers to his Surgical and Physiological Essays (1793-97), and was probably written to the London publishing firm of Cadell & Davies, which issued the third part of the Essays (1797) after the work's original publisher, James Evans, went bankrupt in 1795.

"Gentlemen: I have sent you 100 copies of the 1st and 2d Parts of my surgical & physiological Essays to dispose of on my account-they have been frequently enquired for by Booksellers within this last 4 Months. Mr. Johnson told me he wanted six copies. I have sent also 100 copies of 3 Plates-there are pages of reference which these are to front in the 2d Part."