To find the right path in the ocean of historical books, we can turn to some catalogs of the most important examples of historical literature in medicine. The most respected for their thoroughness and historical value are seminal resources for researchers looking for rare and important medical books of the past. References to their records are often found in the reference departments of university libraries and specialized institutions and are often cited by booksellers of scientific and antiquarian books: Wellcome Historical Medical Library Catalogue; Garrison-Morton's Medical Bibliography; Hirsch's Biographisches Lexikon der hervorragenden Ärzte; Osler's Bibliotheca Osleriana; The Bibliotheca Walleriana; The Harvey Cushing Catalogue; Heirs of Hippocrates; Catalogue of the History of Medicine Collection in the National Library of Medicine.

Establishing the publication date of a medical trade catalogs is not always trivial. Many medical instrument manufacturers did without catalogs for many years – there was simply no need for them. Then, when the first trade catalogs of medical and surgical instruments appeared, they often omitted the date of their publications. There are several indications that can be used to determine the approximate year of publication of catalogs, which are discussed in this article.

In the world of collecting antiques of medical instruments are often graded based on their condition. The ratings like C1, C2, and C3 are used to indicate the state of preservation and the amount of wear or damage an item has sustained over time. C1 – excellent condition, with minimal signs of wear or use and retains most of its original features and functionality. C2 – good condition but may show more evident signs of wear or aging. C3 – fair or poor condition with noticeable damage or significant signs of wear.

The story of how the second edition of the book De humani corporis fabrica libri septem, by Flemish Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564), desecrated by numerous marginal notes, became one of the most outstanding examples of scientific printing that has come down to us has shocked the world of medical history and bibliography. This book, first published in 1543, then revolutionised anatomy and, among of others, commented on about 200 mistakes and misconceptions of the infallible authority, Claudius Galenus, questioning more than a thousand years of anatomical beliefs. It is no wonder that the young genius (Andreas Vesalius was only 29 years old when by publishing his Opus magnum) faced not just significant opposition, but fierce hatred, a real mass shitstorm for questioning established views, rocking the comfortable chairs of professorial chairs.