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John Martin Rare Book Room- News Notes, Feb 2011

Le Boursier, a prominent Parisian midwife, first published the present work in 1759 without illustrations. The success of the book encouraged her to have later editions illustrated by Jean Robert (fl. 1746-1782).  The 1769 edition was the first book on midwifery to appear with plates printed in multiple colors. Robert, a pupil of Le Blon, is known to have illustrated only three books and this was his most copiously illustrated book. The finely applied colors often appear to be hand-painted rather than printed.