A film crew recently visited the Institute to shoot footage for a short documentary on salpingectomy, the removal of one or both fallopian tubes. The film will feature three books from the Historical Collection:

Two people sit at a wood table with shelves full of old books and a dark portrait painting behind. An anatomical atlas is open in front of them, cameras and filming lights are pointed at the atlas. A third person stands behind with arms crossed, blocked by one of the filming lights.

Filmmakers sit with Michael at the table in our Jacob’s Room to capture a shot of Reinier de Graaf’s 1672 work, with Hunter’s anatomical atlas in the foreground.

Gabriele Fallopio’s Observationes anatomic

Printed in Venice in 1561, this was the only work of Fallopio published during his lifetime. While largely a commentary on Vesalius, Fallopio makes notable corrections such as an accurate description of female reproductive anatomy.

Reinier de Graaf’s De mulierum organis generationi inservientibus tractatus novus

Printed by Leiden’s Officina Hackiana in 1672, this work, solely devoted to reproductive anatomy, provides the first accurate description of the of fallopian tubes.

A person leans over an old book sitting on a stool with their hand on top. Another person points a film camera at the spine of the book. Wood shelves with glass doors are in the background.

Michael and a filmmaker capture the impressive spine of a later edition of Fallopio’s works primarily drawn from his lectures.

William Hunter’s Anatomia Uteri Humani Gravidi Tabulis Illustrata

Hunter’s ground-breaking 1774 atlas with 34 large copper plate engravings took over 30 years to produce, with four artist providing drawings and 18 engravers. Printed by John Baskerville of Birmingham. This was Baskerville’s largest book and one of two books on medicine from his press.