COMPENDIUM MALEFICARUM: SHOWING THE INIQUITOUS AND EXECRABLE OPERATIONS OF WITCHES AGAINST THE HUMAN RACE, AND THE DIVINE REMEDIES BY WHICH THEY MAY BE FRUSTRATED
Book Details + Condition: John Rodker (London, UK). First, Limited and Hand-Numbered Edition, 1929. This particular copy is numbered 525 out of a limited printing of 1275. With Introductions, Bibliography and Notes by Montague Summers. Hardcover measuring 10.25" x 8", of First Issue with black parchment spine and deep red cloth boards. Gilt front board stamping "Of the Sign of the Holy Cross". 207 pages. Illustrated with "40 Curious Woodcuts".
COMPENDIUM MALEFICARUM was a witch-hunter's manual written in Latin by Brother Francesco Maria Guazzo, and published in Milan in 1608. It examines witches' pacts with the devil, and detailed descriptions of witches’ powers and poisons. It also contains Guazzo's classification of demons, based on a previous work by Michael Psellus. Further contents include:
- Of Artificial Magic
- That Witches Effect Their Marvels with the Help of the Devil
- Of the Witches' Pact with the Devil
- The Power of Witches over External Things
- Whether Witches Can by Their Art Create Any Living Thing
- Whether Witches can Transmute Bodies from One Form to Another
- Of Specific Spells
- Of Witches' Poisons
- Threatening or Beating Witches is the Best Method of Removing the Spells Cast by Them
- And much more.
PROVENANCE: From the massive occult collection of Dr. Alan Gauld (1932–2024), distinguished British psychologist, parapsychologist, and historian of psychical research based at the University of Nottingham. His library included significant works on mediumship, hypnotism, and the founders of psychical research, often marked with his ownership inscriptions or ex libris labels. He authored many respected works, including The Founders of Psychical Research (1968), Mediumship and Survival (1982), and A History of Hypnotism (1992). Firm binding; light normal aging and shelf wear to boards, with a bit of rubbing present; toning to endpapers; Gauld's ex libris to inside front board; interior is clean and free of markings, save Gauld's meticulous penciled notes to rear free endpaper (which we kept, due to provenance). All books are carefully packed, and shipped in boxes.
