Life Beyond the Grave, described by A Spirit through a Writing Medium.
London: E. W. Allen, 1876. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. xvi + 168pp. + 4pp. ads. Original decorated pebbled cloth lettered in gilt on spine & front board, beveled edges. An anonymous "writing medium" describes in the Preface how he progressed through the use of a planchette, then sittings with another medium (Mrs. Woodforde) to being able to receive spirit messages via "unconscious writing." The spirits with whom he communicated then helpfully supplied their own short preface, with the great majority of the book taken up by some 150 short spirit discourses or reflections on various topics such as "Why spirits return to Earth", "Danger from False Spirits", "A Seance from the Spirits' point of view" etc. etc. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his ex-libris seal blind-stamped on the front free endpaper. Spine ends a little bruised and chafed, a few faint marks to rear board, page-edges lightly browned, contemporary owner's name and year of acquisition (1878) on front free endpaper, title-page darkened, otherwise a clean VG+ copy. Very scarce. Item #51634
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