PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY FOR PSYCHICAL RESEARCH - 1915, Volume 28
Book Details + Condition: Robert MacLehose and Co. (Glasgow). First Edition, 1915. Hardcover. 657 pages, with Index to rear. Illustrated. Scarce first edition, original copy of PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH from 1915. Publisher's original green cloth boards with gilt title, etc. to spine. Contents of this volume include: The Study of the Psychology of Mrs. Piper's Trance Phenomena; Some Prophecies; Controls as to Their Relation to the Body and Spirit of the Medium; and much more. Please see our other listings for more first editions of THE SOCIETY OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH, as well as information about the organization below. Interior hinges cracked, but binding remains firm; rubbed corners and edges; some discoloration and aging to boards and spine; text is clean and free of markings. Lacking front endpaper; the original covers are also included in the book (unbound), with a sticker stating "Not to be taken out. Presented by Mrs. Home and the late Col. L.E.M. Taylor."
The Society for Psychical Research was created in 1882, with Henry Sidgwick serving as its first president. Its stated purpose was to apply scientific methods to the investigation of psychic phenomena and the paranormal. Areas of study included hypnotism, dissociation, thought-transference, mediumship, spirit possession, apparitions and haunted houses and the physical phenomena associated with séances. The SPR were the first to introduce a number of neologisms which have entered the English language, such as 'telepathy', which was coined by Frederic Myers. Much of the early work involved investigating, exposing and in some cases duplicating fake phenomena. Among its most renowned members were Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Price, and William T. Stead.
