People from the Other World
Hartford, Conn: American Publishing Company, 1875. Illustrated by Alfred Kappas and T. W. Williams. Issued by subscription only. Three-quarter binding with marbled paper boards. Banded spine with gilt titles. Beautiful maroon, blue, white and gold marbled endpapers. All edges gilt. Henry Steel Olcott (1832-1907). Occultist, author and a co-founder of the Theosophical Society and its first president.
Part one of this work is an account of Olcott's 1874 investigations into the famous Eddy brothers seances of Chittenden, Vermont, and their claimed psychic powers. Part two is a report into two Philadelphia mediums who claimed to be able to call up two spirits called John and Katie King. The account includes descriptions of seances, healings, levitation, teleportation and the famous Compton transfiguration. Olcott's foundational interest in the Spiritualist movement helped foster the development of spiritual philosophy. This is one of his most popular works and offers an important insight into the nineteenth-century fascination with the occult with an attempt to approach the supernatural with scientific investigation. Wonderful images of ghosts, seances, and paranormal events.
Wear to all board edges and corners. Gilt has dulled and shows light scuffing and nicks but still has a lovely glow. Small area of loss to through the leather on the back cover at spine. The hinges and binding are strong and firm. The binding is square and solid. Item #283
Price: $300.00