The good gift: a comparison of the Eli Lilly presentation copies of Aequanimitas

The Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company of Indianapolis, Indiana distributed some 150,000 copies of the third edition of Sir William Osler's Aequanimitas to graduating medical students between 1932 and 1953. Bibliophiles have considered these volumes identical. However, there were at least seven different printings in English and one in Spanish and one in Portuguese. The size of the book and type of paper changed over the years. The title page, spine information, and printing information also changed. A congratulatory letter from Eli Lilly and Company was placed in the front of each book. These letters have many differences. Thus, the volumes are not identical and the recognition of these differences opens a new field for research and collecting.