THE SACRED BOOK OF DEATH HINDU SPIRITISM SOUL TRANSITION AND SOUL REINCARNATION
De Laurence, Scott & Co. (Chicago). First Edition thus, 1907. De Laurence did not usually designate reprints of his works. This copy has the copyright date 1905, with “Student's Occult Edition" on the copyright page, and the year 1907 on a printed quote facing the Preface. The binding, paper and print are consistent with a book from the early 1900s, so it appears to be a "first edition thus". Hardcover, Octavo. (8” x 5.5”). 400 pages. Hardcover with original maroon red patterned cloth with gilt title to spine and gilt design to front cover, and top edge gilt. Includes b&w illustrations. Published by Lauron William de Laurence (1868 - 1936), publisher of occult literature. De Laurence was notorious for taking other people's works and reissuing them under his own name (sometimes re-titling them in the process). Despite his eccentricities he played an important part in the occult history of the United States; he was a pioneer in selling occult books and supplies by mail order, and the cheap "Pow Wow" books and other books of magic which he published were received with great fervor. Chapters include: Spiritism; Link of Perispirit; Hindu Spiritism; Insanity; Death; God; Soul and Body; Dreams; Death Trance; Benevolent Spirits; Casting Out Evil Spirits; Familiar Spirits; Sorcerers and Conjurers of Spirits; Revealing the Future; Loss of Those we Love; Resurrection of the Body; Earthly Joys and Sorrows; Paradise, Hell and Purgatory; Suicide; Evil Passions; Selfishness; Reincarnation; Lessons in Hindu Spiritism; Instructions for the Invocations and Convocations of Spirits; Sacred Magic. A clean and firm copy, with minor shelf wear; lightly rubbed corners and edges; 2 small repaired tears at bottom of pages; and a clean interior save owner info on front endpapers, and Spiritualist stamp on endpapers and blank page.
