The Case of Helen Duncan.
London: Psychic Press Limited, 1945. First Edition. Hardcover. Small octavo. 154pp + adverts. Blue cloth with gilt lettering to spine. This copy INSCRIBED to Dr. M. H.Coleman by the author on the front blank: "To Dr. M. H. Coleman, With all good wishes, Maurice Barbanell, April 1946". Barbanell was one of the founders, and the editor (along with Hannen Swaffer, a Fleet Street journalist, and the notable British spiritualist, Arthur Findlay) of "Psychic News", a weekly British occult / spiritualist newspaper that survived until 2010. In this volume Barbanell discusses the case of Scottish-born Helen Duncan, who in 1944 became the last person in England to be jailed under the Witchcraft Act of 1735. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his ex-libris seal blind-stamped on the front free endpaper. Spine a bit faded, edges and points lightly rubbed, light foxing to page edges, dust jacket flap neatly affixed to front endpaper along with Marylebone Spiritualist Association distribution sticker, otherwise a tight, bright VG+ copy. A scarce title, made even more so by the author's inscription (no dust jacket). Item #59630
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