Life Beyond the Grave, described by A Spirit through a Writing Medium.
London: E. W. Allen, 1876. First Edition. Hardcover. Small octavo. xvi + 168pp. + ivpp. adverts. Original brown cloth, decorated in black and 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, although not marked as such. Boards lightly rubbed and discoloured, slight damp mark to upper edge of rear board, spine darkened, spine ends bumped with some light fraying, corners bruised and lightly frayed, page-edges darkened, endpapers cracked at inner hinges (but holding well), largish section of front free endpaper (front blank) neatly excised (presumably to remove an owner's name), pages toned with occasional light pencil lines outside text (easily erased). Still a textually a complete, solid, Good copy. Scarce. Item #53470
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