[ Fakes and Frauds: Occult ] WEATHERLY, Lionel A. and J. N. Maskelyne [ John Nevil Maskelyne ].

The Supernatural? [ with Chapter on Oriental Magic, Spiritualism, and Theosophy ]; ( Arrowsmith's Three and Sixpenny series )

Bristol: J. W. Arrowsmith, ND [ circa 1891 ]. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Small octavo. xvi + 273pp. Medium brown cloth with gilt titling to spine and black titling to upper board. Publisher's advertisments on the rear endpapers. B&w frontispiece entitled "A Spirit Photograph" & other illustrations. Arrowsmith's 3/6 series. An interesting, well written, and humorous expose of the supernatural, with a special emphasis on Spiritualism and Theosophy. Co-author, John Nevil Maskelyne (1839 - 1917) gained fame for publicly exposing the fraudulent feats of the sham-spiritualists, the Davenport Brothers. He subsequently became fascinated with the mechanics of trickery and illusion, and became well known as a stage magician (he was also the inventor of the pay toilet). The book includes many interesting illustrations of how the fraudsters worked their illusions, as well as a chapter on "Belladonna, Indian Hemp [marijuana] [&] Opium" being used to cause "hallucination and illusion." As far as we can determine this is the first edition of the work. The Preface is dated 1891 and the press reviews etc. of a book based on an obviously contemporary lecture series that are reproduced on the rear endpapers all date from the same year. A much read copy. Cloth darkened and rubbed with a few faint spots and marks from handling, spine canted and spine quite darkened & bruised and rubbed at both ends, corners chafed, light crease to rear board, front free endpaper (first blank) neatly excised, therefore the book opens to the half-title page. First and last few pages unevenly toned, some pages have a few light creases, unmarked. Overall a clean and serviceable Good + copy. Item #69241

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