Spirits in the House: A Record of the Magical Entertainment devised and presented in his home by T. H. Chislett.
Birmingham, England: Goodliffe Publication, 1949. First Edition. Hardcover. Small octavo. 120pp. Original dark blue pebbled cloth lettered in gilt on spine & front board. B/w frontis, photos, and illustrations. The first edition of this record of the magical entertainment presented by the author in his home, over a period of twenty years, a number of which replicated or at least were patterned on the mental and spiritualistic phenomena associated with fraudulent mediums. When commenced in 1920, its main features were Thayer's 'Talking Vase,' the 'Dr. Q Slates', and the 'Tapping Hand.' Over time the show lengthened and by 1924 it lasted about two and a half hours and included David P. Abbot's 'Talking Kettle,' 'Talking Skull,' 'Spirit Paintings' and 'Floating Ball.'". Chislett was a member of the Inner Magic Circle, with Gold Star, and was also a member of the Sheffield Circle of Magicians as well as the British Ring. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his library seal blind-stamped on the front free endpaper. Very light chafing to corners and spine ends, pages very lightly toned - otherwise a tight, clean VG+ copy (no dust jacket). Item #54318
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