The anatomy of melancholy, what it is. With all the kindes, causes, symptomes, prognostickes, and severall cures of it. In three maine partitions with their severall sections, members, and subsections. Philosophically, medicinally, historically, opened and cut up. By Democritus Junior. With a satyricall preface, conducing to the following discourse

London: Peter Parker, 1676. EIGHTH EDITION. With the famous illustrated title page, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces. Printed in double columns. Contemporary full Oxford-style calf worn and rubbed, spine label; interior overall fine with some minor spotting and a few annotations. Bookplate of Septimus Scott, possibly the famous British artist (1879-1965) whose works included oil paintings, book illustrations, advertisements, comic book covers, and so much more. He has exhibited in the Royal Academy and was a member of the Royal Watercolour Society. Eighth edition of this medical masterpiece, considered by Osler as the greatest treatise on the subject ever written by a layman as well as a classic of literature. Burton (1577-1640) sets out by claiming that melancholy is "an inbred malady of everyone of us." He defines the causes, symptoms and properties of melancholy, discusses cures, expounds on love and religion, and examines fear, women’s melancholy, and anatomy of the soul . In truth, this work covers a much wider scope than the "medical" aspect upon which it is based. Using quotations, humor and pathos, Burton covers the entire life of man, including social and political reform, as well as bodily and mental health.

The impact of this volume is solidified through the personal annotations of previous readers, including the passionate notes, “Life is so ful of miserie; were it not better not too be” (p. 219), and “Is this the only kind of jealousy? Would to God it were! Cannot of two friends one become jealous of the others growing partiality for an other? What is the cure for such a case?” (p. 373). This book is a testament to the fact that maladies of life are not century specific, and melancholy has plagued the masses as long as time itself.

Garrison & Morton, 4918.1; Printing & the Mind of Man, 120;  Osler, 4624; STC, 4159 (all first ed.).