Aristotle's Master-piece in Three Parts

Aristotle [pseud.]; William Salmon

Printed and sold by the booksellers, 1738

19th edition. A banned book on human reproduction. Falsely attributed to Aristotle. Presumed to be authored by Dr. William Salmon, 1644-1713. 164 pages: illustrations (woodcuts) ; 15 cm. Bound in contemporary full calf.  Boards bowed. Minor edge wear to margins, a few pages have a tear at the half way point.  Includes the frontispiece portrait of a hairy woman who bore a black child.

"The Dirty Book of the Early Modern Period. It was sold furtively by country peddlers and in general stores and taverns; regular booksellers seldom advertised it, though they usually had it under the counter" - Library Company. First published in 1684 and banned in England until 1961, Aristotle's Masterpiece was the first English sex book that served as a popular guide to human reproduction and pregnancy. In the 18th century, "this small book became the best-selling guide to pregnancy and childbirth ... going into more editions than all other popular works on the topic combined." Fissell, Mary. "Hairy Women and Naked Truths: Gender and the Politics of Knowledge in "Aristotle's Masterpiece". The William and Mary Quarterly 60.1 (2003): 43-74. Frontispiece portrait of a hairy woman followed by a black child. This illustration served "as a warning of the effigies of the Maid all hairy, and an infant that was born black, by the Imagination of the Parents." This engraving also appeared in early editions and was the author's warning to those who engaged in sinful sex. Other Titles: Aristotle's Master-Piece Completed; Treasure of health, or, The family physician. Family physician. Aristotle's Masterpiece. Aristotle's master piece. Aristotle's compleat masterpiece. Aristotle's complete master piece. Aristotle's complete masterpiece.

Side note: Colin Schultz wrote a lovely little article about this book for the January 7, 2013 issue of the Smithsonian magazine. Included is a copy of his article for your enjoyment.   

Provenance: From the library of Augusta C. Janney, a Pennsylvania Quaker.