Title
Gray’s Anatomy: Anatomy of the Human Body (20th Edition, 1918)
Author
Henry Gray, F.R.S. Editor: Warren H. Lewis, B.S., M.D. Publisher: Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia and New York Date of Publication: 1918
Image
Description
This beautifully preserved Twentieth Edition of Gray’s Anatomy was published in 1918 by Lea & Febiger. Thoroughly revised and re-edited by Warren H. Lewis, this edition contains 1,247 detailed engravings, making it one of the most visually comprehensive anatomical references of the early 20th century. The red leather spine and cover remain intact, with gold-stamped lettering still bold and legible, lending it an air of enduring authority and academic prestige.
Condition
The cover is in very good condition for its age, with some expected edge wear and rubbing but no major structural flaws. The spine is solid with clear gilt embossing. Internal pages are remarkably well preserved with minimal staining. Illustrations, including a striking full-color anatomical depiction of the thoracic nerves, are crisp and vibrant, showing no signs of deterioration.
Gallery
Historical context
Published at the close of World War I, this 1918 edition of Gray’s Anatomy would have served physicians returning from the war or working in the aftermath. Medical advancements made during the war, particularly in trauma surgery and anatomical study, were beginning to influence clinical education. Warren H. Lewis, the editor, was a prominent professor at Johns Hopkins University and contributed to making this edition more relevant to evolving medical practices.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
The 20th Edition introduced updated terminology and structural refinements to reflect contemporary anatomical understanding.
At 1,247 engravings, it featured the highest number of illustrations to date.
Lewis was known for his meticulous editorial style, which helped shape the next generation of anatomical scholarship.
Excerpt
“It pierces the fascia and supplies the skin of the upper half of the medial and posterior part of the arm.”
— Fig. 821, Intercostal Nerves, Twentieth Edition
Why it is in the Cabinet
This edition complements the 1865 Second American Edition also held in Dr. Bebout’s Cabinet, offering a vivid snapshot of anatomical education half a century later. It demonstrates how medical illustrations became more sophisticated and colorized, and how the understanding of human anatomy evolved with better clinical imaging and dissection techniques. This copy bridges the historical gap between early surgical manuals and modern clinical atlases.
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