1753 Aristotle's Compleat Master Piece / Midwife / Problems / Sex Manual

For sale we have an antique book containing 4 titles spuriously attributed to the Greek philosopher, Aristotle.

(1) Aristotle's Compleat Master Piece, in Three Parts: Displaying the Secrets of Nature in the Generation of Man. To which is added, A Treasurer of Health or, the Family Physician: Being Choice and Approved Remedies for all the several Distempers incident to Human Bodies.

London: Printed and Sold by the Booksellers, 1753 (25th Edition). 144 pages. Missing frontispiece but all other 6 woodcuts present.

(2) Aristotle's Complete and Experienc'd Midwife. Part One Only. Guide for Child-Bearing Women, in the Time of their Conception, Bearing and Suckling their Children;

London: Printed and Sold by the Booksellers (10th Edition, undated). 112 pages. With woodcut frontispiece.

(3) Aristotle's Book of Problems, with other Astronomers, Astrologers, Physicians, and Philosophers, Wherein is contained divers Questions and Answers touching the State of Man's Body

London: Printed in the Year 1749 (26th Edition). 152 pages. With woodcut frontispiece.

(4) Aristotle's Last Legacy. Unfolding the Mystery of Nature in the Generation of Man

London: Printed for R, Ware, 1749 (No mention of Edition). 113 pages. With woodcut frontispiece.

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The book measures 15.5 x 9cm. Full leather. Author(s): Incorrectly attributed to Aristotle.

CONDITION
The leather on the binding is partially missing to the rear board, otherwise good. Rear inside pastdown partially missing. As mentioned only part 1 of Aristotle's Midwife is present and the frontispiece is missing to Aristotle's Compleat Master Piece. Otherwise all good. Great woodcuts. Pages good throughout. Scarce at this age.

Aristotle's Masterpiece, also known as The Works of Aristotle, the Famous Philosopher, is a sex manual and a midwifery book that was popular in England from the early modern period through to the nineteenth century. It was first published in 1684 and written by an unknown author who falsely claimed to be Aristotle. As a consequence the author is now described as a Pseudo-Aristotle, the collective name for unidentified authors who masqueraded as Aristotle. Some claim that the book was banned in Britain until the 1960s, although there was no provision in the UK for "banning" books as such. However, reputable publishers and booksellers might have been cautious about selling Aristotle's Masterpiece, at least in the wake of the 1857 Obscene Publications Act.

(Location : Platform Old Bindings)