Witchcraft2. Secondhand Books. Man Myth & Magic

W20. Murray, M.A, The Witch Cult in Western Europe, 1921, Oxford 8vo pbk. 1962, 303pp incl. index. The first book in the author's contraversial trilogy that saw witchcraft as an ancient fertlity cult. Old tape traces to first and last couple of pages, notes to back of title page. Text clean and tight. V.good - £5

W20B. Murray, M.A, The God of the Witches, 1st edition, Sampson Low, no date (1931, although in slightly later known variant binding with orange spine titles, still part of the initial print run of sheets, but circa 1933), 8vo, black cloth, 10 + 214pp including index + 16 plates. The second of the author's controversial studies aguing the case for witchcraft as an ancient fertility based religion. Some very light wear to spine ends, some very slight, light spotting to prelims, otherwise text clean and tight. Edge of text block slightly damp marked in a couple of places, very slightly affecting tips of margins of last few leaves. Small pre decimimal ink price stamps to top of front end paper and half title. Upper corner of front cover bumped. The increasingly scarce original issue. V.good - £25

W21. Normand, L & G. Roberts, Witchcraft in Early Modern Scotland, 1st edition, University of Exeter Press 2000, large 8vo, blue cloth, 14 + 454pp including index, with maps and 18 plates included in the pagination. A scholarly study of James VI's Demonology and the North Berwick witches. Includes many original documents, including trial depositions, confessions and examinations, together with the full text of the Demonology itself. All with an excellent introduction to establish context. Very slight knock to top of leading edge of front board, otherwise fine £45

W22. Parrinder, G, Witchcraft: European and African, 1958, Faber & Faber 1970, 8vo, original mauve cloth, 215pp including index. A revised and enlarged edition of this classic comparitive study. Ex lib, but a suprisingly clean copy, remains of book plate removal to front end papers, perforated stamp to title, file numbers to verso of title, faint blind stamp to upper cover. Edge of text block dusty, contents clean and tight. V.good - in like (lightly soiled on rear panel, very minor edge wear in places, neat file number to spine panel) d/w £6

W022. Rose, E, A Razor for a Goat: A Discussion of Certain Problems in the History of Witchcraft and Diabolism, 1st edition, University of Toronto Press 1962, 8vo, black cloth, 8 + 257pp including index, frontispiece. A sound study, and a refutation of Margaret Murray's theories of witchcraft as an ancient religion. Some slight dust soiling of covers, edge of text block slightly spotted, affecting a few margins, but text very clean and tight. Frontispiece browning. The uncommon original hard cover edition. V.good - in good + ( Slightly soiled, some edge wear and creasing, light chipping at spine ends, spine portion slightly faded) d/w £18

W22A. Scot, R, The Discoverie of Witchcraft, 1584, Kaufman and Greenberg 1995, large 4to, quarter maroon cloth with green cloth boards, 38 + 283pp, a few illustrations and diagrams in text. Introduction and bibliographical study by Montague Summers. A handsome facsimile reprint of the original 1930 Summers edition published by John Rodker, reflecting the size, binding style and colours of the original, with nice gilt titles and on descent paper. Includes a new foreword. Scot, in vehement opposition to believers such as Bodin and Weyer (on whose work Summers sees the Discoverie as based), saw no esoteric reality to the witchcraft he documented, seeing it merely as down to trickery. To this end, he illustrates a number of conjuring tricks, but also records many ritual magical operations in detail, making the book of great value within the history of magic in all senses of the word. An exceptionally fine, bright copy of an already scarce edition, though still far more affordable than the original. £60

W23. Seth, R, Stories of Great Witch Trials, 1st edition, Arthur Barker 1967, 8vo, blue cloth, 176pp including index. Accounts of 17 of the major English witch trials, taken from contemporary documents. Uncommon title. Near fine in v.good (some edge creasing, soiled in places) d/w £6

W24. Seth, R, Witches and Their Craft, 1st ed. Odhams, 1967, 8vo, red cloth, 255pp incl. index, illus. in text + 8 plates. Split into 3 parts, a historical survey, the craft itself and some notable cases. V.good in slightly marked v.good - d/w £10

W24A. Seymour, J.D, Irish Witchcraft and Demonology, 1913, Portman 1989, 8vo, black cloth, 8 + 256pp incl. index. An introduction and comprehensive survey from the case of dame alice Kyteler in 1324 through to a "witch killing" in 1911. Covers seriously marked but sound, slight damage to margins of two leaves, not affecting text. Contents otherwise clean and tight. Good + £5

W29. Weisman, R, Witchcraft, Magic, and Religion in 17th- Century Massachusetts, 1st ed. U.M.P 8vo pbk. 1984, 18 + 267pp incl. index. A scholarly and accurate account of witchcraft and magic in its social setting. Includes the famous Salem trials, and those prior to them. Spine a little faded, some very minor creasing/ marks to covers. One page corner previously turned. Text clean and tight. V.good - £8

W29A. Williams, C, Witchcraft, 1st edition, Faber 1941, 8vo, mauve cloth, 316pp including index. A highly original historical study, all be it one that regards witchcraft as evil and a lower form of magic. The author (an associate of the Golden Dawn) is better known for his fiction. Cloth a little rubbed and marked, Closed split to length of upper joint, spine ends slightly worn. Spine slightly faded. Edge of text block spotted, slightly affecting contents in a couple of places, though virtually always to margins only. Text tight and very clean. The uncommon original edition. Good + £25

W29B. Williamson, H. R, The Arrow and the Sword, 1st ed. Faber 1947, 8vo, red cloth, 18 + 182pp incl. index. An enquiry into the nature of the deaths of William Rufus and Thomas Becket, with reflections on the nature of Medieval heresy. The author sees the killings as being linked to Margaret Murray's theories of divine kingship, and also includes material on Mithra, Cathars, and other related cults. Ownership inscription to front end paper. V. good in good + (some edge wear and chipping, particularly around top of spine portion, but no loss of text) d/w £14

W30. Williamson, H. R, The Arrow and the Sword, 1st ed. Faber 1947, 8vo, red cloth, 18 + 182pp incl. index. An enquiry into the nature of the deaths of William Rufus and Thomas Becket, with reflections on the nature of Medieval heresy. The author sees the killings as being linked to Margaret Murray's theories of divine kingship, and also includes material on Mithra, Cathars, and other related cults. Spine slightly faded, end papers spotted, text clean and tight. V.good - £12