Witch trials, demonology, sabbaths, black occultism and Christian supernatural literature

"Dernière édition", enlarged with remarks probably due, according to Dorbon, to its publisher, the "spirituel libraire hollandais Jean Frédéric Bernard" (Bibliotheca esoterica, 3227), and illustrated with a frontispiece engraved by Jan Lamsveld, two headpieces and an initial.

Contemporary full blue calf signed C. Smith, double gilt fillet border to covers, gilt fleurons at corners, spine with five raised bands richly gilt, gilt title, gilt roll to board edges, shell-marbled pastedowns, all edges gilt. Light rubbing, upper cover very slightly faded at upper margin, occasional light foxing.

A pleasing copy bound in blue calf, with the imprint of Jean Frédéric Bernard, publisher and presumed...

First French edition, illustrated by Arthur Rackham with 40 mounted colour plates on thick brown paper, each protected by a captioned tissue guard, along with 30 black-and-white line drawings within the text, one of the extremely rare 30 copies printed on japon, signed by Arthur Rackham on the limitation page; the deluxe issue.

Publisher’s Bradel binding in full vellum-style boards, smooth gilt-titled spine, upper board gilt-stamped with title and a tree design, top edge gilt; the silk tie on the lower board is lacking.

A very handsome copy, one of the exceedingly scarce japon copies.

Provenance: manuscript ex-libris on the half-title of Maurice Feuillet, renowned press illustrator...

First edition (cf Caillet I, 1960. Waller II, 12861a.)

A lack at the foot of the spine of the first volume, covers uniformly browned, handsome interior condition. 

Rare first edition of the author's principal work, but with a most questionable method, since he classifies under the category of alienation all the unknown or misunderstood phenomena of the period (demonolatry, lycanthropy, mysticism, vampirism, witchcraft, etc.).

It has at least the advantage of attempting the first history of psychiatry, from the 15th to the 19th century.

Louis-Florentin Calmeil (1798-1895), intern in Philippe Pinel's service, practiced at Charenton from 1823 to 1873 and was able to benefit from the advances...

First edition, one of 165 numbered copies on pur fil d'Arches, deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

Edition edited and annotated by Drs Gabriel Legué and Georges Gilles de la Tourette.

Preface by Dr Jean-Martin Charcot.

Contemporary Bradel binding in blue half cloth, smooth spine decorated with a gilt fleur-on, double gilt rule at foot, brown morocco-grain leather title label with minor rubbing, marbled paper boards, original wrappers preserved, corners bumped.

Complete with the folding facsimile of a letter by Jeanne des Anges at the end of the volume.

First edition, one of 212 numbered copies on pur fil paper, constituting the deluxe issue.
Occasional light foxing, chiefly affecting the edges.

Accompanied by a newspaper clipping and a photographic postcard reproducing a portrait of Georges Bernanos by Laure Albin-Guillot.

Half red morocco over marbled paper boards, with morocco corners, spine with four raised bands outlined in black, minor abrasions to the bands professionally restored, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt with the original deckle edges preserved, original wrappers and spine bound in.

A handsome copy in an attractive binding.

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 text. Plates lacking, but retains its in-text plate depicting the various states of mercury...

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on japon paper, deluxe issue.

Minor tears and two small losses at the foot of the spine at the level of the deckle edges, a stain in the left margin of the upper cover, a wide-margined copy.

Illustrated with a photographic portrait of the author as frontispiece.

Bronze cast of the Marquis de Sade’s skull by the master founder Avangini. One of a unique numbered edition of 99 bearing a reproduction of Sade’s signature, this one No. 30.

Also included is a certificate of authenticity signed by the Comtesse de Sade, with the family’s wax seal.

Provenance: family archives.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Holland paper, being the only large paper issue.

Bradel binding with decorative paper featuring red and gold motifs, flat spine, small restorations to spine-ends and joints, brown shagreen title label with a corner skilfully restored, endpapers and pastedowns of blue paper with gilt motifs, soiled soiled covers and spine preserved, gilt top edge on deckle, contemporary binding.

Exceptional and precious presentation copy signed by Claude Farrère: "Pour Max-Anély que j'admire et pour mon ami Segalen. Claude Farrère." [For Max-Anély I admire and for my friend Segalen. Claude Farrère]

First edition. Dorbon no. 4403: "rare, full of singular documents." Caillet [III, 9922] 
Contemporary full brown calf binding. Spine gilt-tooled in compartments. Brown morocco title-piece. Loss at head of spine. Corners worn and somewhat clumsily restored. A filled loss on lower cover. Scattered foxing. A waterstain at one corner of the final leaves. Several gatherings protruding. 

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.