Witchcraft: Its Power in the World Today.
New York: Harcourt, Brace, and Company, ND (copyright 1940). Early Reprint. Hardcover. Octavo. x + 387pp. Original deep blue cloth lettered in yellow on spine, several b&w illustrations. William B. Seabrook (1884 – 1945) had a lifelong fascination with the occult and saw the practice of voodoo firsthand which he documented in "The Magic Island" (1929), and "Jungle Ways" (1930). This, and his further experiences with occultists in London, Paris, and New York led him to conclude that he had seen nothing that did not have rational scientific explanation, a theory which he detailed in the present volume, in which he also recounts his friendship of sorts with Aleister Crowley (the relationship probably not helped by rumours - confirmed by Crowley's diaries - that he had an affair with Seabrook's wife, Kate). An early reprint: it does not have any statement of edition, and the only year given is the copyright year 1940, on the verso of the title-page. Boards somewhat discolored due to a milddamp exposure, which has darkened them and caused a little bit of the inner surface of the dustjacket to offset, making some white markes. Light rubbing and bumps to corners, spine ends and edges. Fortunately the damp did not penetrate beyond the outside of the covers. Page edges a bit darkened, pages evenly toned. An old (1949) newspaper clipping about an exorcism is loosely inserted between pages 14 & 15 causing some shadowing. A small bump to the bottom edge of the text block has caused very slight creasing to a the bottom corner of a couple of dozen leaves. Overall a tight, solid VG- copy in G+ dust jacket (Colour illustrated dust jacket is s bit worn, with some light damp-wrinkling, chafed and chipped at all edges and extremities, rear panel a bit darkened, inner flaps clipped. Now in protective mylar cover.) The book and jacket actually look much better than this long list of flaws would suggest - most only became apparently when we went to catalogue it. Scarce - especially with dust jacket. Item #70418
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