First edition of this important work dedicated to the magical world, spiritualism, magnetism, and mediumistic phenomena. In it, Gougenot des Mousseaux develops a Catholic critique of occult practices, hallucinations, and the "human phantom." Copy in a half-shagreen binding with corners, the gilded spine of which bears the title. The 1863 first edition is well described with XV preliminary pages and 447 pages of text.
✦ Period: 1863, first edition ✦ Provenance: Paris, Henri Plon, printer-publisher, 8 rue Garancière ✦ Dimensions: approximately 21.5 x 14 cm ✦ Material: burgundy half-shagreen binding with blue cloth covers, gilt titling and tooling on the spine ✦ Content: 447 pages on mediators, spiritualism, magnetism, occult phenomena, and magic ✦ Condition: Good used condition. Binding rubbed and stained, corners and edges worn; spine faded with small losses at the head and tail; interior generally fresh with some scattered foxing and occasional dirt marks. Complete.
Antique work on occultism, spiritualism, and magic from the 19th century, in first edition.
