THE BOOK OF TALISMANS, AMULETS AND ZODIACAL GEMS
Book Details + Condition: William Rider and Sons, Ltd. (London). First Edition, 1914. Scarce. Hardcover with blue tweed-patterned cloth boards and gilt titling to spine. 281 pages with Index. Illustrated with color frontispiece and b&w plates of talismans and amulets (all present). Authors William Thomas Pavitt and Kate Pavitt explore the history, meaning, and magical use of protective symbols and gemstones. The authors separate objects meant to attract good luck and power (talismans) from objects worn to ward off evil and harm (amulets). The book introduces early 20th-century occult ideas about the psychic, magnetic, and "etheric" vibrations of stones. Chapters include:
- The Psychic and Magnetic Influence of Talismans and Gems
- Talismans of Primitive Races
- The Tan Cross-Aumun Ma Ni Pad Hum
- Indian Talismans
- The Swastika
- Hanuman the Monkey
- Wheel of Life
- The Lucky Diagram
- Talisman For Wisdom
- Buddha's Footprints
- The Dorje Knots
- Chinese Talismans
- The Lucky Sentence
- Red in Talismans
- The Black Cat
- The Fear Charm
- The Blue Gown For Longevity
- Leaf Talisman
- Egyptian Beliefs
The Ladder and Steps
- Gnosticism
- The Magic Symbols
- The Archangels
- Greek Talismans
- Abraxas
- Osirus, Isis, Etruscan, Greek and Roman Talismans
- The Angus Dai
- Hassan and Hussein
- The Head of the Lady Fatma
- Talismans Against all Mischiefs
- The Lee Penny
- The Moon Talismans
- The Astrological Talismans
- And much more.
A firm and clean copy of a scarce first edition, with solid binding; rubbed corners and edges; some shelf wear to boards, with small spots of discoloration; chafed spine ends, with a bit of chipping present; inked name to ffep; toning and foxing to first and last few pages; a few pages with more areas of foxing; interior is otherwise clean and free of markings. All books are carefully packed, and shipped in boxes.
