Land Beyond The Forest : Gerard 1888 [ Vampires , Dracula , Transylvania ]
$500
In stock
Description
First American Edition of The Land Beyond The Forest by Emily Gerard, An Influential Guide to Transylvanian Folklore Including Vampires Which Served As Source For Stoker’s Dracula
Gerard, [Emily]. The Land Beyond The Forest Facts, Figures, and Fancies from Transylvania. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1888. First US Edition.
The scarce first American edition of The Land Beyond The Forest, one of the earliest English language accounts of the folklore and folk beliefs of Transylvania by Scottish author Emily Gerard based upon her experiences in the country while living there during her husband’s military service there from 1883-5. The text covers the Saxon and gypsy ethnic groups, discussing their marriage, mourning, and burial practices, as well as supernatural beliefs concerning witchcraft, werewolves, and vampires. Highly influential, especially with regard to the foundation of modern vampire lore, this book (along with Gerard’s later work) was one of the original sources used by Bram Stoker when writing Dracula (1897), and includes the first appearance of the word “nosferatu” in English.
403pp + [1] map. Green cloth boards with gilt lettering to spine. Corners and spine ends bumped. Minor soiling with two small ink spots back board. Minor wear to spine. Text block and pages toned. Includes 41 illustrations and a map. Binding crease affecting back pastedown, endpapers, map, and 402-403. Very good.
If you liked this book, you might also enjoy this first edition of the influential collection of traditional Chinese ghost stories, Some Chinese Ghosts by Lafcadio Hearn. You may also enjoy this first edition of Ancient Art and Ritual by noted early female classicist Jane Ellen Harrison.
