The anatomy of human bodies, containing many new anatomical discoveries and chirurgical observations was contentedly written by the English surgeon and anatomist William Cowper (1666 – 8 March 1709). Cowper's Anatomy of the Humane Bodies had been cited as one of the greatest acts of plagiarism in all of medical publishing, due to his use of Govard Bidloo’s (1649–1713) work Anatomia Humani Corporis published in 1685. Bidloo's publishers had sold 300 copies of the unbound plates to William Cowper (or his publishers);  Cowper then proceeded to write a new English text to accompany the plates, adding new ideas and observations. The study of anatomy had flourished in the 17th century, due to the advent of the printing press. Because the study of anatomy concerned observation and drawings, the popularity of the anatomist was equal to the quality of his drawing talents, this popularity seen in the case of Cowper and Bidloo could be contentious.