ANONYMOUS [ William Oxley ].

Life and Its Manifestations: Past, Present, and Future - A Series of Revelations from Angelic [ Interior ] Sources, containing a New System of Spiritual Science and Philosophy, illustrated by examples - ( Three volumes - Vols. I & II and index to Vols. I and II ).

Manchester: For Private Circulation Only, 1891, 1892 and 1921. Vols. I & II First Editions, Vol. III reprint. Hardcovers. Octavos.Three volumes (of possible) five, although Volume I and II are complete within themselves and the index covers both of the former. xxiv + 558pp; xvi + 502pp; 148pp. Original gilt lettered maroon buckram, gilt titling to spines, gilt device to upper boards. William Oxley (1823 - 1905) was a businessman from Manchester (England) who was well known within Spiritualist circles. He was a close friend of Emma Hardinge Britten, practiced slate writing (himself acting as the control) and crystal gazing, was involved with Mrs. Firman in her experiments with wax moulds, attended seances with Madame d'Esperence. Perhaps most importantly he was the founder of a secret Spiritualist group, "The Angelic Order of Light" which flourished through the last two decades of the nineteenth century, with the purpose of encouraging and receiving Angelic revelations. These revelations were recordered in two privately published set of books: "Angelic Revelations Concerning the Origin, Ultimation, and Destiny of the Human Spirit" and the here-offered "Life and its Manifestations: Past, Present, and Future. A Series of Revelations from Angelic Sources, Containing a New System of Spiritual Science and Philosophy, Illustrated by Examples." Although no publisher is listed these were almost certainly published under the auspices of "The Angelic Order of Light" who strictly controlled their distribution: copies were evidently presented to a small number of members, but for the most part they were only given out on loan with the strict injunction that they remained the property of the society, and must be returned to them. Volumes I and II are complete in themselves; The index was apparently first published in 1903 and is the index to Vols. I and II only. Given that is five years after the author's death, the index was almost certainly compiled by someone else. Somewhat cryptic bookplates of "The Angelic Order of Light" on the front pastedowns. Volumes I and II have been rebacked, with the original backstrips laid down. All three volumes have seen some use, Vols. I and II more so than the Index. All have rubbing and faint marks to cloth, spine ends and corners bruised and chafed, page edges darkened and thumbed, pages toned with some creased corners and short edge tears. Volume II (only) has been heavily used with extensive notes and underlining throughout, the first blank and half-title page have been excised, and the spine is canted. Overall a tight Good only set of this very scarce work. Item #51501

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