Item #52666 Three Prose Works: Miscellanies, Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme, Observations. Edited, Introduction, John Buchanan-Brown.

Three Prose Works: Miscellanies, Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme, Observations.

Fontwell, Sussex: Centaur Press, 1972. First UK Edition. Hardcover. Thick octavo. xlvi + 576pp. Blue cloth lettered in gilt on spine. In the 'Centaur Classics' series. Three prose works by John Aubrey (1626-97), the English antiquary, proto-archaeologist (he explored Stonehenge and "discovered" the henge at Avebury), and writer who is now most widely remembered for his "Brief Lives." Despite being reasonably prolific, his "Miscellanies" were the only of Aubrey's works published during his lifetime. An active Fellow of the Royal Society, Aubrey had an inquiring mind and was fascinated by the occult and supernatural, and 'Miscellanies' is a broad-ranging study, with sections on auspicious and inauspicious dates, omens, communications with angels, and magick, as well as a study of 'second sight' (the ability to foresee future events through divine inspiration) that is reputed to be the first treatment of the subject to appear in print. The chapter on "Magick" includes a few short references to witches and witchcraft: notably "Vervain and dill, Hinders witches from their will", and several stories recounting methods used to hinder witchcraft. The other two works: "Remaines of Gentilisme" and "Judaisme, Observations" are much as their titles suggest. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his ex-libris seal blind-stamped on the front free endpaper. B/w frontis. & several text illustrations. Bibliography, index & glossary of persons. Previous owner's name on front free endpaper, otherwise a solid, clean VG+ copy in near-Fine dust jacket. Item #52666
ISBN: 9780900000218

Price: $45.00