Book of Dreams 1811 - 1812 - 1813.
[London]: Printed by C. Richards, [1813]. First Edition. Hardcover. Large octavo. 152pp. Superb half-leather craft binding by renowned London book-binder, Bernard C. Middleton (1924 - 2019). Half blue leather over marbled papered boards, raised bands & gilt titles & decorations on spine. A privately printed book which records the dreams experienced by a young woman, "A.B.", as told to G. Baldwin, along with his commentary. A.B. suffered "extreme deformity of body," and consequent pain, for which she received "magnetic treatment" daily from a magnetiser; "D." After the treatment began, the A.B. began to experience vivid dreams, 28 of which are recorded here, with interpretation by Baldwin. The dreams themselves appear to have been meticulously recorded, although there is little in them or the commentary that might be considered unseemly, the dreams have a ring of authenticity, and it is possible to see that in the context of the times, the text may have had a voyeuristic appeal to some. The book was privately circulated, with proceeds going to A.B., who was apparently quite impecunious. A neat handwritten note, perhaps by the editor, which is inserted under the publisher's name and address in the colophon reads: "Of whom the Books may be had for the benefit of the dreamer, an Orphan, at the option of the charitable and humane." The book is genuinely rare, and apparently overlooked in all the standard works on dreams and dream interpretation. Worldcat records only 8 copies. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his ex-libris seal blind-stamped on the front free endpaper. Page-edges browned, a diagonal strip has been torn from the top-corner of the title page, but it has been beautifully restored (presumably by Middleton - who quite literally 'wrote the book' on book restoration), contemporary owner's name at top of advertisement leaf, over all a lovely VG + copy of a truly rare work. Was $600.00. Item #49664
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