The Principles of Light and Color. including among other things The Harmonic Laws of the Universe, the Etherio-Atomic Philosophy of Force, Chromo Chemistry, Chromo Therapeutics, and the General Philosophy of the Fine Forces. Together with Numerous Discoveries and Practical Applications.
East Orange N.J. / N.Y. The Author / Henry J. Van Haagen, 1896. Second Edition. Hardcover. Large Octavo. xii + 560pp (+ 6pp.adverts). Original patterned cloth with gilt titling to spine and front board. Double-page fold-out color frontispiece diagram and 3 color plates. 203 b/w photo-engravings throughout text. The second edition of this classic study of the healing power of color by Edwin D. Dwight Babbitt (1828-1905) that was first published in 1878. Babbitt was the founder of a commercial college, and author of books on Spiritualism, who in his forties embraced Spiritualism and began practicing as a "psychophysician," in the course of which he developed the theories about color therapy expounded in this book which amounted to a form of homeopathy of color. He invented a chromo lens made of a crystal grade of glass consisting of three different colors; blue, amber and transparent. In his own comments about his chromo lens which is hollow, Babbitt writes: “When water is placed within and charged by the sunlight the substance becomes medicated with an exquisite principle which is more gentle, enduring and far reaching in its effect than ordinary drugs.” A dose would consist of from one or two teaspoonfuls to as many tablespoonfuls as needed. He installed colored glass windows in his offices and had patients take colored sunbaths. In this volume, Babbitt lists healing colors for many ailments using the fundamentals of the thermal, neutral and electrical colors. Thermal colors of red, orange and yellow are exciting and raise blood pressure; electrical colors of blue, indigo and violet lower blood pressure; the neutral color green has stabilizing effects on the entire human system. Thre is a slip with the second publisher's details (Henry J. Van Haagen, NY) tipped over original imprint on title-page. A little light fraying at the head and tail of the spine, and the points, slight bruising to the corners. Hinges cracked but holding. Owner's name on blank verso of first plate, and blind-stamped on title-page and p. 559. About 40 pages have some light discoloration at the inside top margin (not affecting text) and there is some browning to the upper margins of the plages. One gathering standing a little proud, but still firmly attached. A basically solid, G+ copy. Item #57920
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