Item #45302 Hypnotism: A Complete System of Method, Application and Use. L. W. DE LAURENCE, aka Lauron William de Laurence.
Hypnotism: A Complete System of Method, Application and Use.
Hypnotism: A Complete System of Method, Application and Use.

Hypnotism: A Complete System of Method, Application and Use.

Chicago, IL: Henneberry, ND (1900). First Edition. Hardcover. Small octavo. 188pp. + 6pp. ads. Elaborately illustrated deep red cloth gilt-lettered on spine & front board, gilt, yellow & black designs on spine & front board. B/w frontis. & several b/w plates. Top-edge-gilt. An early work 'by' Lauron William de Laurence (1868 - 1936), renowned book pirate, plagiarist, and publisher of occult literature. This being a work on Hypnosis which "includes all that is known in the art and practice of mesmerism and mental healing, prepared for the self instruction of beginners as well as for the use of advanced students and practitioners. It is illustrated with wonderful period photographs. De Laurence was notorious for taking other people's works and reissuing them under his own name (sometimes re-titling them in the process). Despite his roguish eccentricities de Laurence played an important part in the occult history of the USA: he was a pioneer in selling occult books and supplies by mail order, and the cheap "Pow Wow" books and other books of simple magic which he published were surprisingly well received, and he is quite revered in some quarters. With no date but for the 1900 copyright date, it is difficult to be certain of the date of publication but we believe it to be circa 1900 which Worldcat lists as the first edition. As de Laurence began publishing his own works under his "De Laurence, Scott and Company" imprint no later than 1909, this copy almost certainly predates that. A well worn copy. Cloth discolured and spot faded, spine ends & corners of boards worn and frayed, chipping & loss at spine ends, endpapers discolored, owner's name in pencil on front free endpaper, page-edges browned, pages toned, damp mark affecting fore-edges of last 20 pages & rear pastedown, front endpapers splitting slightly at inner hinge (hinge solid) - still a solid and serviceable Good - copy (no dust jacket). Sold as is. Item #45302

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