Modern Spiritualism: its Facts and Fanaticisms its Consistencies and Contradictions; with an Appendix
Boston: Bela Marsh, 1855. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. 438pp. Original brown cloth decorated in blind w/ gilt title, etc, to spine, appendix. Really, a detailed, if partisan, history of Spiritualism during its formative years in North America. A professional journalist from Rhode Island, the author, Eliab Wilkinson Capron, could write with some authority on the subject as he met the Fox sisters in 1848 and effectively served as their agent and publicist during the early years organizing their public appearances and seances. It was also Capron who wrote, along with Henry D Barron, what would become one of the foundation works of Spiritualism: "Explanation and History of the Mysterious Communion with Spirits Comprehending the Rise and Progress of the Mysterious Noises in Western New York, Generally Received as Spiritual Communications" in 1850. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his ex-libris blind seal on front blank. Corners lightly bumped, corners and spine ends a bit chafed, very slight chipping to cloth at spine ends, endpapers unevenly discoloured, internally bright & unmarked. Overall a tight, clean better than VG copy. Scarce. Item #62119
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