Subject strengths: Medicine, History

The Pybus Collection, originally brought together by the esteemed local medic and surgeon Professor Frederick Charles Pybus (1883-1975), is rich in material relating to the history of medicine. The collection consists chiefly of some 2000 volumes which are mostly classics of the history of medicine, with particular reference to anatomy, surgery and medical illustration.

Highlights are Gilles de Corbeil's De Pulsibus (1494), the first printed book on the pulse, as well as a 1648 edition of William Harvey's celebrated work Exercitatio anatomica de motu cordis et sanguinis in which he published his discoveries about the motion of the heart and blood. There is also a 1555 edition of one of the most important and influential books in the history of medicine, De Humani Corporis Fabrica by Andreas Versalius. Most of the other celebrated anatomists are represented here too, as well as later pioneers and experts.

The Pybus collection also includes engravings, portraits, busts, holographic letters and a set of bleeding bowls (currently housed at the Walton Library).

 

Collection Name and Collection Reference Code:

Collection Name: Pybus (Professor Frederick) Collection

Library Search Collection Ref Code: This collection is split into 2 collections on the Library Search, ‘Pyb’ & ‘Pybus Add.’

Date Range of Material

1478 - 1993

Type of Material

The personal library of Professor Frederick Pybus

Size of Collection

84 Linear Metres of shelving 

How To Order Items From This Collection

The books within this collection are described within the Newcastle University Library Search and can be ordered directly from the catalogue.

This link to the Library Search will show a list of all the items within the collection. Please note this link is available to members of the public as well as University staff and students.

You can then place your order by linking to our request form. 

Unable to visit our Reading Room?

If you are unable to visit our reading room, we also have a virtual reading room service and a digitisation service. 

Other Resources

See Pybus (Professor Frederick) Archive for archival material related to Professor Pybus' work and book collecting.

See also Medical Collection for published works on the history of medicine.

Material from this collection was used in our Treasures of the Month feature for June 2010, August 2010, May 2011, October 2011 and October 2013.