Samuel Gedge Ltd. Offers a Mix of Very Old Books and Ephemeral Items

Item 35 is An account of a new mode of operation for the removal of the opacity in the eye, called cataract, by James Earle. This was a new mode in 1801, which ought to help us appreciate modern medicine. Earle was a prominent surgeon, appointed surgeon—extraordinary to George III. In Earle's procedure, a spear pointed instrument would lead a pair of forceps into the eye. Once this was accomplished, a spring mechanism would remove the spear point leaving the forceps free to remove the cataract. And yes, this was before modern anesthesia. It makes lasers sound so much better. £950 (US $1,486).

Item 82 is a “topsy-turvy” print by J. Wallis from 1790. These are images that reveal a different face when turned upside down. This one shows an older woman with glasses, who becomes a somewhat younger one when turned upside down. We display both angles in the image on this page as turning a computer screen upside down is a cumbersome task. £250 (US $390).

Samuel Gedge Ltd. Rare Books may be reached at +44 (0)1263 768 471 or rarebooks@samuelgedge.com. Their website is www.samuelgedge.com.