The Sanctuary of Spiritualism; A Study of the Human Soul, and of its Relations with the Universe through Somnambulism and Ecstasy ... translated from the French by M. Flinders Pearson.
London: Geo. Peirce, ND [ ca. 1853 ? ]. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. vi + 234pp. Superb modern half-leather craft binding by renowned London book-binder, Bernard C. Middleton. Brown leather over marbled paper boards with decorative rules to edges of leather; raised bands with gilt title, rules and decorations to spine. Marbled endpapers. Originally issued in wrappers: the original front wrapper (only) is bound in at rear. An unusual work by Louis-Alphonse Cahagnet (1809-1885) a self-educated furniture maker, who embraced Mesmerism, Spiritualism, Theosophy and Swedenborgianism. Blavatsky is said to have taken an interest in Cahagnet's work on Animal Magnetism, and according to a recent academic paper he was one of a small number of mid-nineteenth century occultists to investigate the use of drugs (both hashish and various of the traditional drugs of witchcraft) for spiritual purposes. The original French edition was published in 1850, this first English edition is undated, with different authorities suggesting it was published anywhere between 1853 and the 1870s. With the ownership stamp of Vincent N. Turvey (1873-1912) on both the title-page and the wrapper (at rear). Turvey, a prominent psychic and exponent of Spiritualism and author of "The Beginnings of Seership, or Super-Normal Mental Activity" (1911), was described by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as "one of the most gifted clairvoyants in England." More recently from the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his blind-stamped ex-libris seal on the first blank. Binding near fine; wrapper rubbed at inner margin, a few pencilled annotations & lines in margins of several pages (perhaps by Turvey), and a few gentle signs of age-wear. Still a solid, complete VG+ copy in lovely binding. Item #49797
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