Symbolism in Relation to Religion; Or, Christianity, the Sources of its Teaching and Symbolism.
London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd, ND [ 1912 ]. First Edition. Hardcover. Small quarto. xiv, b&w author portrait, 394pp. Original navy cloth with gilt titles etc. to spine, b/w frontispiece, plates and illustrations, index. Errata sheet tipped in. James Ballantyne Hannay (1855–1931) was a Scottish chemist, best known for his unsuccessful attempts to synthesize diamonds but in later life he turned away from scientific investigation and moved his attention to examining aspects of the origin and development of religion. He was clearly of the school of thought that believed most religions had their origins in phallic and nature worship, and well over half the book is devoted to a survey of phallicism in the non-Christian religions of antiquity. Light overall shelf wear, all edges and extremities a little rubbed with a few light bumps, endpapers unevenly brown, pencil notes on front pastedown, rear endpapers cracked at gutter but hinge is solid. Despite a bit of ordinary wear - a tight, and unmarked better than VG copy (no dust jacket). Quite scarce. Item #65559
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