Discoverie Of Witchcraft : Scot 1930 [ Ex Libris Ricky Jay ]

Description

Ricky Jay’s Copy of Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft, One Of the Most Important English Books on Magic

 

Scot, Reginald. Summers, Montague. The Discoverie of Witchcraft. John Rodker. Bungay. 1930. Limited edition, #43 of 1275. Ex libris Ricky Jay.

A copy of the beautiful, limited John Rodker edition of Scot’s The Discoverie of Witchcraft with foreword by Montague Summers, from the library of the late stage magician Ricky Jay.

The Discoverie of Witchcraft, first published in 1584, is among the first and most important works on magic published in English, serving as the basis for both the practice of and disbelief in witchcraft. Intended as a thorough investigation and expose of the fraudulent nature of witchcraft, sorcery, and other practices, including descriptions of historical trickery now recognized as some of the first writings on stage magic in English, Scot’s excellent attention to detail in his accounts of historical magical practices from contemporary and ancient accounts allowed it to serve as an encyclopedic compendium of supernatural beliefs and practices. Against authorial intent, The Discoverie of Witchcraft became one of the most important English language magical texts, serving as a valuable source for those who wished to put its contents into practice including the construction of charms and talismans, and instructions for communication with angels, demons and the spirits of the dead.

This edition, exquisitely printed on laid Dutch paper, includes an introduction by controversial occult author Montague Summers, whose books include, The History of Witchcraft and Demonology, The Geography of Witchcraft, and other titles. The publisher, John Rodker, previously operated the Ovid Press, publishing important early works by T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and others before turning his attention to occult subjects, including a 1928 edition of the Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of the Witches) also featuring commentary by Summers.

Number 43 of 1275 hand numbered copies, this copy was formerly part of the collection of the stage magician, debunker, and author Ricky Jay (1946 – 2018).

283pp. Small folio. Quarter bound in red Morocco leather and green embossed boards.  Title and author gilt to spine. Wear to spine edges with minor cosmetic losses. Corners bumped. Decked edges. Textblock, pastedowns, and endpapers toned. Hand numbered 43 of 1275. Illustrated with reproduction woodcuts. Lacks dustjacket. Good.

 

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