Item #62800 An Historical, Physiological and Theological Treatise of Spirits, Apparitions, Witchcrafts, and other Magical Practices; Containing an Account of the Genii or Familiar Spirits, both Good and Bad, that are said to attend Men in this Life; and what sensible Perceptions some Persons have had of them; (particularly the Author's own Experience for many Years.) Also of Appearances of Spirits after Death; Divine Dreams, Divination, Second Sighted Persons, etc. Likewise the Power of Witches, and the reality of other Magical Operations, clearly asserted. With a Refutation of Dr. Bekker's "World bewitch'd"; and other Authors that have opposed the Belief of them." John BEAUMONT.
An Historical, Physiological and Theological Treatise of Spirits, Apparitions, Witchcrafts, and other Magical Practices; Containing an Account of the Genii or Familiar Spirits, both Good and Bad, that are said to attend Men in this Life; and what sensible Perceptions some Persons have had of them; (particularly the Author's own Experience for many Years.) Also of Appearances of Spirits after Death; Divine Dreams, Divination, Second Sighted Persons, etc. Likewise the Power of Witches, and the reality of other Magical Operations, clearly asserted. With a Refutation of Dr. Bekker's "World bewitch'd"; and other Authors that have opposed the Belief of them."

An Historical, Physiological and Theological Treatise of Spirits, Apparitions, Witchcrafts, and other Magical Practices; Containing an Account of the Genii or Familiar Spirits, both Good and Bad, that are said to attend Men in this Life; and what sensible Perceptions some Persons have had of them; (particularly the Author's own Experience for many Years.) Also of Appearances of Spirits after Death; Divine Dreams, Divination, Second Sighted Persons, etc. Likewise the Power of Witches, and the reality of other Magical Operations, clearly asserted. With a Refutation of Dr. Bekker's "World bewitch'd"; and other Authors that have opposed the Belief of them."

London: D. Browne et al, 1705. First edition. Hardcover. Octavo, (xvi) 400 pp. Original (?) 18th century calf with sympathetic later reback retaining boards, raised bands, gilt rules and titling and to spine. Marbled endpapers, frontispiece. The full title is 'An Historical, Physiological and Theological Treatise of Spirits, Apparitions, Witchcrafts, and other Magical Practices Containing an Account of the Genii or Familiar Spirits, both Good and Bad, that are said to attend Men in this Life; and what sensible Perceptions some Persons have had of them; (particularly the Author's own Experience for many Years.) Also of Appearances of Spirits after Death; Divine Dreams, Divination, Second Sighted Persons, etc. Likewise the Power of Witches, and the reality of other Magical Operations, clearly asserted. With a Refutation of Dr. Bekker's "World bewitch'd"; and other Authors that have opposed the Belief of them.' The author's personal belief in spirits and other ethereal beings which he perceived around him clearly influenced the composition of this work - which he drew from a wide variety of earlier sources. "John Beaumont (died 1731) practised surgery in Somersetshire and was elected F.R.S. as a result of his descriptions of exotic plants and underground caverns. His interests soon took him to the occult, resulting in this book that is amusing, gossipy, anecdotal, and grotesque. (The author's personal experiences with the spirits are rendered less unsettling when he hints that strong and frequent drink may have played a role in generating these encounters.)" Early Devon and Exeter Library plate on front endpaper, and neat stamps on verso of title page and on final text page. No other institutional markings. [Contemporary] previous owner has copied changes from errata neatly into appropriate page margins, neatly striking through the corrections listed on the Errata page as each change was accomplished. Boards lightly chafed with some rubbing to edges and corners. Light foxing to end papers and a few contemporary margin marks - otherwise text is remarkably bright and fresh. Overall VG+. Scarce. Item #62800

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