Lot 291: OSLER PRESENTATION COPY. MACMICHAEL, WILLIAM. 1783-1839. The Gold-Headed Cane. London: John Murray, 1827.

OSLER PRESENTATION COPY.
MACMICHAEL, WILLIAM. 1783-1839. The Gold-Headed Cane. London: John Murray, 1827. 8vo (200 x 128 mm). Woodcut illustrations throughout text. Red half-calf, gilt. T.e.g. Front joint starting, minor foxing to leaves, small dampstain to fore-edge of several leaves.FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY WILLIAM OSLER to Campbell Howard. "This charming 'autobiography' tells of the adventures of the famous gold-headed cane, successively in the possession of Radcliffe, Mead, Askew, William and David Pitcairn, and Baillie, and then retired to a glass case in the library of the Royal College of Physicians of London" (Garrison-Morton 6709). Osler provided the introduction to the 1915 edition of this work. Campbell Howard was the son of Osler's mentor from his student days, Robert Palmer Howard, and Osler's godson. Osler "guided Campbell through medical school at McGill, advised him on presenting and publishing papers, and enthusiastically supported a move back to McGill" (Michael Bliss, William Osler 340).