Mesmerism and Electrical Psychology, comprised in Two Courses of Lectures, (Eighteen in number), complete in One Volume.
London: James Burns, Progressive Library, 1876. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Small octavo. vi + 216pp + 16 advert circular. Original blue cloth decorated in black and illustrated and lettered in gilt, lettered in gilt on spine. The first complete publication of the 18 lectures given to large audiences in various US cities by Dr. John Bovee Dods (1795-1872) a New York born clergyman, philosopher, mesmerist, and early psychologist who spent much of his adult life in Maine. Dods appears to have both embraced and rejected Spiritualism at varying times of his life: at the time of delivering these lectures he seems to have been taking a middle-ground, suggesting that the phenomena were real, but natural rather than supernatural; the product of a pyschological electrical force rather than some occult agency. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, though not marked as such. Cloth discoloured and heavily chafed & worn overall, spine darkened creased with some minor loss to ends and front edge, corners chafed to boards, front inner hinge split with some visible crude glue repair, pages edge darkened and a bit uneven, pages unmarked. Despite heavy wear - a serviceable Reading copy only. Item #62083
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