A World of Wonders, with Anecdotes and Opinions concerning Popular Superstitions.
London: Richard Bentley, 1845. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. xii + 362pp. Original green cloth decorated in blind, lettered in gilt on spine. Albany Poyntz was one of a number of pseudonyms used by the writer Catherine Gore (1799 1861) when bringing out "pot-boilers" designed to augment the income supplied by her more literary endeavours. "A World of Wonders" is an almost Fortean cabinet of curiosities, bringing together all sorts of stories of the strange, odd and astoundings. The work comprises 52 short chapters with the headings: Longevity Of Animals; Incombustible; Ventriloquists; Pope Joan And The Wandering Jew; The Fables Of History; Melons And Monsters; The Jews; Verbal Delicacy; Aerolites And Miraculous Showers; Nostrums And Specifics; Physiognomists; Last Words Of Dying Persons; The Antipodes--Morning And Evening Dew; Perpetual Lamps And Archimedes; The Lynx And The Cameleon; Wild Women; Sybils; Fortune-Tellers And Chiromacy; Albertus Magnus And Nostradamus; Leeches, Serpents, And The Song Of The Dying Swan; Negroes; Fascination; Or, The Art Of Pleasing; The Philosopher's Stone; Giants And Dwarfs; Astrology; The Moon And Lunar Influence; Apparitions; Nobility And Trade; Merit And Popularity; Comets; Popular Errors; Dreams; Prejudices Attached To Certain Animals; Content And Courtesy; The Divining Rod; Bees And Ants; Prepossessions And Antipathies; The Influence Of Bells Upon Thunder Storms; Small Pox And Vaccination; Precocious And Clever Children; Education Of Children; Prejudices Of The French; Monstrous Births; The Ichneumon And The Halcyon; Sorcerers And Magicians; Male And Female; Minor Superstitions; Somnambulism; A Few More Words About Ghosts And Vampires And Loup-Garoux; Apocryphal Animals; Professions Esteemed Infamous; Supernatural Human Beings From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his ex-libris seal blind-stamped on the front free endpaper. Cloth somewhat rubbed overall, a few light bumps to edges, some fraying & loss at both spine ends, small chip to cloth at upper rear gutter, corners bruised and rubbed. Page-edges browned. Pages toned with a very few pencil marks outside text on no more than 10 pages. Else a clean, not unnattractive, solid copy. Item #49543
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