James, Benjamin, A Treatise on the Management of the Teeth. Boston, 1814.

[MEDICINE]

BENJAMIN JAMES. A TREATISE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TEETH. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY CHARLES CALLENDER. PRINTED BY JOSEPH T. BUCKINGHAM, 1814

12mo (6 7/8 x 4 1/8 in.; 175 x 105 mm). Engraved pictorial title; browning and dampstaining. Original blue stiff wrappers, printed paper label; wrappers stained and chipped.

"First full-length book on dentistry published in the United States, and the first with a dental illustration" (Garrison-Morton). The engraved additional title-page shows a person suffering from toothache; below is a vignette of artificial teeth. This is the first American illustration of human teeth. The cover label reads, "The various operations, described in this work, are performed by the Author, Doct. Benjamin James, Physician and Dentist, No 12 Water-Street, Boston." The book warns readers against the itinerant dentists common in early America.

LITERATURE:

Asbell, Bibliography of Dentistry in America 3; Austin, Early American Medical Imprints 1044; Garrison-Morton 3679.3; Weinberger, Dental Bibliography p. 73

PROVENANCE:

Mr. Dunn (signature dated 24 July 1815) — A. D. Mollin, D.D.S. (bookplate)