1834 The Darker Superstitions of Scotland, Illustrated from History and Practice

Description

First Edition

The very scarce first edition, first issue of this study of the history of the supernatural in Scotland from British antiquarian and naturalist Sir John Graham Dalyell, in an attractive full calf binding.

Only two issues of this work were ever printed, the first being this one, printed in Edinburgh in 1834, and the second in Glasgow in 1835. Both are very scarce.

In John Ferguson's 'Bibliographical Notes on the Witchcraft Literature of Scotland', it is noted that this fascinating work is ideal for 'any one desirous of comparing the form which superstitious beliefs and occult customs, divination, sorcery, spectral illusions, and so on took in Scotland with that in other countries'.

Many of Scotland's most notable witchcraft cases are referred to, and Ferguson goes on to identify that the work features 'sections upon secondsight, fairies, the devil and his compacts with witches, their conventions and practices, torture and execution'

Chapters titles are: 'Of an Evil Eye, Invocations, and Maledictions'; 'Occult Infection and Cure of Maladies'; 'Miscellaneous Remedies, or Antidotes to Disease'; 'Amulets'; 'Analogies to Propitiatory Sacrifice'; 'Propitiatory charms'; 'Faculties ascribed to Sorcerers'; 'Superstitions relative to Marriage'; 'Doctrine of Sympathy'; 'Ingredients and Instruments of Superstition and Sorcery'; 'Mystical Plants'; 'Mystical Animals'; 'Mystical Mankind'; 'Prognostication, Divination'; 'Imaginary Beings'; 'Spectral Illusions'; 'The Tongues'; 'Tests, Trial, Conviction, and Punishment of Sorcery'.

An errata leaf appears following the contents pages, and an addenda and index appear to the rear.