HALLOWEEN THROUGH TWENTY CENTURIES
Book Details + Condition: Henry Schuman (New York). First Edition, 1950. Hardcover with dust jacket. Black cloth boards with three silver embossed cats to front, and silver lettering to spine. By Ralph and Adelin Linton. Extremely scarce signed copy - author Ralph Linton has inscribed the book to the previous owner (see below for more information). 108 pages, with b&w illustrations and illustrated plates. Part of the Great Religious Festivals Series. A groundbreaking book explaining the holiday's interactions with other holidays and ritual practices, particularly those associated with the Western Christian faiths. Chapters include: The Eve of Allhallows; All Souls’ Day; To Burn Their Nits and Pou Their Stocks; Halloween in Ireland; The Witch in Europe; The Witch Cat; Witch Finder General; Witchcraft in New England; Trick or Treat; Index. From a 1950 Kirkus Review: Fifth in the series of Great Religious Festivals this fits into a category of folk material as well as religion -- and not into holidays as familiar connotation of Halloween might suggest. The authors approach the subject as anthropologists, and review the solemn religious significance of the three day span- Halloween, All Saints' Day and All Souls Day, tracing the sources of observance back to pagan mysteries. It seems of Celtic origin, though there are similarities in Egyptian, Greek and Roman legend. The addition of witches, goblins and fairies to the general acceptance of the prevalence of spirits of the dead show in the Celtic Samhain (Scotland, Norway, Ireland), while Protestant Europe had an additional association as the date on which Martin Luther posted his famous theses. The material expanded from Robert Burns' sources explains many survivals in the games we associate with Halloween; while the use of Jack o'Lanterns is given an Irish source. The history of witchcraft, of the identification of cats with witches, is explored from medieval times to the 17th century and the brief terror in Salem. Some anecdotal material relieves the scholarly approach.
From the massive occult collection of King Lawrence Parker - academic, dissertation author, and book collector extraordinaire. An exceptionally scarce inscribed copy, with firm binding; a bit of discoloration to rear board edge; Parker's bookplate to inside front board; interior is clean and free of markings. Dust jacket shows normal light aging and wear, with rubbing and small tears, mainly at extremities; it retains its original price.
