THE PHANTOM WORLD OR, THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPIRITS, APPARITIONS, ETC.
Book Details + Condition: Richard Bentley (London). 1850. Hardcover. 378 pages (Vol. I), 362 pages (Vol. II). Front and back covers embossed with foliate design, and gilt lettering to spine. Originally published in French in 1746, the book first appeared in English in 1759. This is the second English edition, and it is rarely available in its original binding. French Benedictine monk Antoine Augustin Calmet wrote this influential work on angels, demons, vampires, spirits, demonic possession, witchcraft and magic, apparitions, and other supernatural and occult phenomena. Calmet based his work on accounts from the bible, mythology, legends, and historically documented cases from Eastern Europe. The importance of Calmet's work was subsequently recognized by Montague Summers, who used it as major source for his own works. For both volumes: Tight binding, despite (rare) original boards having been re-attached at some point; heavily rubbed corners; wear to corners and edges; shelf wear to boards; cloth to spine ends missing; Wisconsin Consistory Library bookplate on inside front boards and faded number on copyright page. Vol I (specific): a few old smudges and stains; Vol II: Tape to interior binding; embossed stamp on title page; front blank endpaper missing.
