Light in the Valley, My Experiences of Spiritualism.
London: G. Routledge & Co. for the author, 1857. First Edition. Hardcover. Small octavo. xii + 228pp. Original red cloth decorated in blind and gilt, professionally rebacked with original spine laid down and boards retained. A few b&w illustrations in text, and eight b&w and 8 color full-page plates. Mrs. Newton Crosland (Camilla Dufour Crosland: 1812–1895) was a popular English writer whose fervent embrace of Spiritualism expressed in this book attracted some ridicule and criticism, not only for her defense of phenomena such as table-rapping and automatic writing, but also for her attempts to align Spiritualist beliefs with Christianity, which some suggested led her into inadvertent blasphemy. The book is particularly noteworthy on account of its eight color plates of "spirit emblems" and symbols. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his ex-libris seal blind-stamped on second free endpaper. Rebacked as noted, with the original spine mounted. Cloth is lightly rubbed and discolored, page edges darkened and thumbed, owner's name on front pastedown, fresh front endpaper and reinforcement to front inner hinge, pages toned, a bit of scattered browning and marks from handling. Still overall a tight, unmarked VG copy. Item #55357
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