Occultism: Two Lectures Delivered in the Royal Institution on May 17 and 24, 1921.
London: Watts & Co., 1922. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. 80pp. Original maroon publisher's cloth lettered in gilt on spine. Two essays reprinted with Additions from the "Hibbert Journal" of October, 1921 and January, 1922. Although the title is "occultism" the author largely equated the term with Spiritualism and Psychical research. The author, Edward Clodd (1840-1930) was an English banker, whose wealth enabled him to pursue a passion for folklore and anthropology. He was an evolutionist and rationalist who had studied the work of Darwin and enjoyed the friendship of Thomas Huxley and Herbert Spencer. Not surprisingly he is more than a little skeptical of occultism (he rather unkindly suggests that 'some of us think that "Credulity" and "Conan Doyle" are equations'), although he genuinely strives to understand it, rather than simply to criticise. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his library seal blind-stamped on the front free endpaper. Upper corners lightly bumped, page-edges foxed & browned, spine a little faded & rubbed at ends, light rubbing and shelfwear - otherwise a solid, internally-clean better than VG copy (no dust jacket). Item #54546
Price: $35.00