Item #61021 Dictionary of Demonology. Edited, Wade Baskin.

Dictionary of Demonology.

New York, NY: Philosophical Library, 1965. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Octavo. vi + 178pp. Light grey composite marbled boards lettered in black on spine. A translated selection from the 'Dictionnaire Infernal' by Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy (1793-1887). The original work remains one of the best known European works on demonology. de Plancy was a French-born author and occultist, who lived in Belgium and France, where he worked as a printer and publisher. His 'Dictionnaire Infernal' was first published in 1818. As the title suggests, the book is effectively an encylopaedia of hellish things: demonology and superstition, and de Plancy follows the tradition set down in grimoires like The Lesser Key of Solomon of carefully naming the various demons and itemizing the legions and hierarchies to which they belong. The book went through a number of revisions and editions between 1818 and its sixth and final revision of 1863. Although not mentioned in the book itself, Baskin's translation is obviously heavily abridged, as its size is considerably less than just one of the volues of the original French editions. This, the first English language edition of this classic work, is still a convenient way to access the text for non French speakers. Page edges a little darkened, otherwise a clean near Fine copy in VG+ dust jacket. (Dust jacket has the slightest of rubbing & creasing to edges, not clipped). Item #61021

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