Rare first and only edition of the Dutch translation of the Artzneybuch of Oswald Gabelkover (1538-1616), who was the personal physician to the dukes of Württemberg. It was originally printed in 1589 under the patronage of Ludwig von Württemberg and soon followed by several other editions. The present translation was made by Carolus Battus, a physician in Dordrecht, who was the first to translate medical works into Dutch. He is known as the author of one of the earliest Dutch cookery books, which was published together with his translation of Wirtsung's Arzney Buch (1568) with the confusingly similar title: Medicyn-boeck. Battus present translation served as served as the basis for the English translation The boock of physicke, which was published a year later, also in Dordrecht.
With old owners' inscriptions on title-page and flyleaf ("A. (or R?) Van Wachtendonck") and some manuscript citations in French, Greek and Latin and recipes in Dutch on the fly-leaves at the beginning and the end. Title-page slightly soiled, two smudges on p. 115 (one resulting in a minor hole) and some occasional spots, otherwise in very good condition. Binding soiled and slightly damaged along the extremities, but still good. BMN I, p. 189; Durling 1736; STCN (3 copies); Typ. Batava 2027; USTC 424043 (6 copies, incl. 3 the same); cf. Johnston 145; for Battus: NNBW V, col. 27.