Stanislas de GUAÏTA

First edition.

Rare copy of this esoteric work by Lazare Meyssonnier, physician and "professor of the science of spirit", on demonology and diabolic possession, the theology of the names of God and Hebrew Kabbalah, the various types of magic, operative alchemy, anatomy, angelology..

Full calf, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt fillets and fleurons, faded gilt-lettered title, new endpapers added, speckled edges. Joints split, a few scuffs to the leather, gilt partly faded, first three leaves browned, a few tears, dampstaining to a majority of the leaves, and wormholes without loss to the...

First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the only large paper copies along with 10 on China.
Contemporary half red morocco over marbled paper boards, spine in six compartments with gilt flowers, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers preserved, top edge gilt.
Provenance : from the Lallemand de Mont collection, Stanislas de Guaita's son in law with his ex libris to pastedown.
A rare large paper copy with an exceptional provenance. 

Second edition (after the first Latin and French of 1741) with a frontispiece and seven engraved plates (including one folding, a map of the underground world) by Brühl. It's worth noting that numerous copies from this date don't have eight plates, while the first French edition had only three and the Latin none. Originally translated from the Latin Nicolai Klimii Iter subterraneum by Eléazar de Mauvillon (1712-1779). Attributed to Holberg by Barbier (Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes). Manuel bibliographique des sciences psychiques et occultes, Caillet, 1912-1913. Engraved title.
 
Contemporary brown sheep. Spine in decorated compartments. Beige...