Mesmeric Experiences.
London: H. Bailliere and J. Oliver, 1845. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. viii + 103pp + i advert. Original patterned green cloth with gilt lettering to upper board. Spencer Timothy Hall (1812 – 1885) was an English author, printer, bookseller and mesmerist. An interest in contemporary popular scientific movements led him first to study phrenology, and then mesmerism, in which he immersed himself after seeing public demonstrations of mesmeric feats by Charles Lafontaine. He later lectured himself, and both taught mesmerism and offered mesmeric treatments, most famously to one Harriet Martineau, whom he was said to have freed from the grasp of a previously incurable disease. This volume is an account of Hall's experiences with Mesmerism. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his blind-stamped ex-libris seal on front free endpaper. Cloth lightly faded at upper edge of boards, corners and spine ends bumped and lightly rubbed, page edges darkened and pages lightly toned but overall a lovely, clean VG+ copy. Item #61490
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