Curious Things of the Outside World: Last Fire ( Two Volume Set ).
London: T. & W. Boone, 1861. First editions. Hardcovers. Small octavos. Two volumes. xii + 330pp.; x + 364pp. Original decorated brown cloth gilt-lettered on spines. Hargrave Jennings (1817-1890) was a British author, Freemason, Rosicrucian, and student of comparative religion, who wrote widely on various esoteric subjects, although he is now best known for his books on Rosicrucianism ("The Rosicrucians: Their Rites and Mysteries," "The Mysteries of the Rosie Cross" et al) and phallic worship and its place in the origin of religions ("Phallicism, Celestial and Terrestrial," "Nature Worship: an Account of Phallic Faiths and Practices Ancient and Modern," "The Masculine Cross and Ancient Sex Worship," et al.) He was quite well known in his own time: indeed Wilkie Collins is said to have modelled the character of Ezra Jennings in "The Moonstone" on him. "Curious Things of the Outside World: Last Fire" is a sort of showcase of the by-ways of Jennings' interests, and comprises a typically eccentric miscellany of observations on apparitions, omens, Spiritualism, the supernatural, magic, Rosicrucianism, dreams, animal magnetism, the mystic value of the colour purple, fire worship, Templarism, and much more. Spine ends lightly chafed, small split in cloth gutter at top of spine of front of Vol.I, corners lightly bumped. Vol. I. a little shaken with three gatherings standing a little proud at fore-edge, although still firmly attached. Minor foxing to prelims in Vol.I, otherwise a solid, clean VG or better pair. Scarce in first edition. Item #47564
Price: $650.00