THE OCCULT SCIENCE: THE PHILOSOPHY OF MAGIC, PRODIGIES, AND APPARENT MIRACLES
Book Details + Condition: Harper & Brothers (New York). First American Edition, 1847. Hardcover. Scarce. Complete in two volumes. 332 pp (Vol. I), 315 pp (Vol. II). Two-volume set by French poet and politician Eusèbe Salverte, who was also a founding member of the Société française pour l'abolition de l'esclavage, an abolitionist movement founded in 1834. This work looks critically at the history and phenomena of magic, including miracles and thaumaturgy, oracles, religious sects, use of animals including poisons of serpents, drugs, meteorology, and more. Translated from the French to English by Scottish doctor Anthony Todd Thomson, who also added notes to the text. Book measures 7.25" x 5.25", with embossed boards and gilt decoration to front, and gilt titling to spine. Tight binding; rubbed corners and edges; shelf wear to boards; author name written on spine and faded call number present; Indianapolis Library plate to inside front boards and embossed stamp to title page; owner's name on front free endpapers and title pages; foxing intermittent (some areas more than others) in both volumes.
