Totemism and Exogamy. A Treatise on Certain Early Forms of Superstition and Society ( 4 Volume Set ).
London: MacMillan & Company, Limited, 1910. First Edition. Hardcover. Large thick octavos. Four volumes (complete set). Volume 1: xix, 579; Volume II: vii, 640; Volume III: vii, 583; Volume IV: 379 + eight folding maps. Original green publisher's cloth with gilt titles, etc. to spines. Sir James Frazer's monumental four volume study of totemism, examining how myth and religion developed and their relationship to exogamy. The first volume comprises a reprint of his 1887 volume "Totemism" along with essays "The origin of totemism" and "The Beginning of religion and totemism among the Australian aborigines." There follows a 400pp work, "An ethnographical survey of totemism" which is largely on totemism amongst native Australians. The second volume and third volumes continue the ethnographical survey looking at totemism in Torres Straits; New Guinea; Melanesia, Polynesia; Indonesia; India, Rest of Asia; South Afria, East and Central Africa; West Africa; Madagascar; the United States and Canada; North-West America; Guardian Spirits amd the American Indians; Secret Societies among the Indians of the United States; Secret Societies among the Indians of North-West America; Totemism among the Indians of Central America; Totemism among the Indians of South America. Vol. Four comprises Summary and conclusion; Notes and corrections; Index and Maps. A bit of overall shelf rubbing, abrasions and some uneven fading to cloth. Spines a bit darkened, a few bumps to edges, corners and spine ends, endpapers unevenly browned, text unmarked and there are many pages "uncut"/ unopened. Owner's name in pen to front blank of Volume I only, bit of tape to inner hinge at upper in front margin of Vol. II (only). Some light pencil annotations in Vol. Four. Overall a tight and clean better-than VG set (no dust jackets). Large heavy set, additional shipping charges will apply to all destinations. Item #67240
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