THE NOVELS AND MISCELLANEOUS WORKS OF DANIEL DEFOE: VOL XIII. THE HISTORY OF APPARITIONS. [THE SECRETS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD DISCLOS'D OR, AN UNIVERSAL HISTORY OF APPARITIONS SACRED AND PROFANE, UNDER ALL DENOMINATIONS; WHETHER ANGELICAL, DIABOLICAL, OR HUMAN SOULS DEPARTED.]
Book Details + Condition: D.A. Talboys, For Thomas Tegg (London). First Edition by this publisher, 1840. Very scarce. Small octavo hardcover with dark red embossed boards. 392 pages. "The Secrets of the Invisible World Disclos'd" was written by Daniel Defoe in 1729, under the pseudonym Andrew Moreton. The book is an influential Enlightenment-era work of supernatural philosophy and religious discourse, arguing for the literal reality of the spiritual realm while simultaneously attacking ancient superstitions and folklore. The text is a systematic examination of the supernatural, aiming to bridge faith and logic. Chapters include:
- Of apparitions in general; the certainty and nature of them
- Of the appearance of angels immediately in mission as from heaven
- Of the appearance of the Devil in human shape
- Of the appearance of departed unembodied soul
- Of the different nature of apparitions
- Of apparitions in dream
- Of imaginary apparitions
- And much more.
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). A very scarce edition with firm binding; bumped and rubbed corners and edges; wear to boards, with darkening and rubbing; Gauld's ex libris sticker to inside front board, and inked name to ffep; toning to pages; interior is clean and free of markings, save meticulous pencilled notes to rear endpaper, which we retained due to provenance. All books are carefully packed, and shipped in boxes.
