The anatomy of the human body abridg’d. Holmes writes, “I have the ‘Manuall’ of Alexander Read, published in 1638—just one hundred years earlier than this, which I am much pleased to add to my collection. I have two anatomical works which go back more than another century—to 1520. It is very interesting to examine these books in series—to see what anatomy has come to in three centuries and a half…. I thank you very cordially for adding another stepping-stone to my path backward through the centuries.”]]> “I thank you for them. They are curious, interesting—and fearfully truthful. I do not think much is gained in this instance by the multiple process. I like best the single photograph. That certainly looks like me, and is not to blame for not being more attractive…. but if [Henry Pickering] Bowditch has any curiosity for one of the compound ones, you can let him have it, and welcome.”]]>