The Mysteries and Secrets of Magic.
Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1928. First US Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. xviii + 320pp. Original black cloth with red titling to spine, top edge red, b&w frontis and illustrations, bibliography & index. The first US edition of this popular work on magic which was first published in London the year before. A comprehensive overview of the history of magic. The author, C. J. S. Thompson (1862-1943), was in charge of acquisitions for Henry Wellcome, and thus had easy access to what would become the library of the Wellcome Institute, one of the greatest collections of medical, alchemical, magical and related books and manuscripts in the world. Light overall shelf wear and some fading to spine and boards, a few light bumps and a little rubbing to edges and corners; page fore-edge of text block a bit darkened, pages lightly toned but clean and unmarked. Overall a tight, clean VG+ copy (no dust jacket). Scarce edition. Item #68601
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