WILLAN, Robert.

4to, 1 leaf, 556 pages, 1 leaf (contents), and 34 stipple-engraved plates printed in colour (numbered I–XXXIII + XVI*) with tissue guards. With the contents leaf but without the ‘Directions to binder’ leaf (this leaf and the contents leaf are often both missing). Title a little dust-soiled and spotted, paper lightly browned, three gatherings badly spotted, foxing on the plates but mainly in the margins, a few plate numbers and imprints cropped. Contemporary calf (a bit marked and rubbed), nicely rebacked and corners repaired.

FIRST EDITION IN BOOK FORM. G&M 3985 and 4018: “Modern dermatology may be said to start with Willan…” He established a standard nomenclature which is still more or less in use today. He was also a clinician of great ability who made numerous original observations including (pp. 73–76) original description of prurigo mitis; under the name “ichthyosis cornea” Willan quoted Crusio’s case of scleroderma (see pp. 197–212). Willan also established psoriasis as a separate skin disease (pp. 152–88). This work and that of Alibert (1806) are the first dermatological works with coloured plates. “Willan established the classification and nomenclature of skin diseases that is still more or less in use today. He based his dermatological system upon three essential elements: the precise description of macromorphologic forms, a classification of skin diseases based on demonstrable differences in these forms, and the careful selection of names and technical terms, using historic precedent whenever possible. His observations led to the establishment of several new disease classifications — including herpes iris, purpura with visceral symptoms, and pompholyx (which he named) — and promoted a clearer conception of most of the dermatoses. A novel feature of Willan’s work was his systematic use of illustrations to supplement disease description, an idea entirely new to dermatology at the time; his treatise was also the first dermatological work to be illustrated with colored plates. “Willian did not live to complete his treatise, of which only the first volume was published. The volume was originally issued in four fascicles between 1798 and 1808; at the publication of the fourth fascicle, the first three were reprinted and collected with the fourth” (Norman). These fascicles are extremely rare individually, let alone as sets. Crissey & Parrish, The dermatology…of the nineteenth century, pp. 19–28. Pusey, The history of dermatology, pp. 61–67. Norman catalogue 2241 (without the contents leaf and directions to binder leaf).