Medical History Book Appraisal

Textbook of Materia Medica, Fourth Edition (1928) by A. S. Blumgarten

This is an antique medical reference book titled 'Textbook of Materia Medica,' authored by A. S. Blumgarten, M.D., F.A.C.P. This specific volume is the Fourth Edition, noted as being 'Completely Revised' and published in 1928 by The Macmillan Company in New York. The book features a cloth-bound hardcover in a dark, likely navy or black, finish with visible grain texture. The internal pages are printed on off-white paper that shows minor signs of age-related toning but remains remarkably clean. The layout features elegant typography common to early 20th-century scholarly texts, including the classic Macmillan Company logo stamp. Physically, the binding appears intact at the hinge, though there is slight shelf wear along the edges of the cover. The title page lists the author's extensive credentials, including his role as Associate Attending Physician to the Lenox Hill Hospital. As a Fourth Edition from the late 1920s, it represents a significant era in pharmaceutical and medical education before the antibiotic revolution. The craftsmanship is indicative of high-quality mass-market scientific publishing of the period, designed for durability in a clinical or academic setting.