The History of Magic by Kurt Seligmann

New York, NY: Pantheon Books, ND [1950s ]. Reprint. Hardcover. Quarto. 504 pp. Black cloth with blind stamped sigil to upper board, gold lettering to spine, b/w illustrations, index etc. An early, undated reprint of this volume, which was originally published in 1948 as “The Mirror of Magic.” Seligmann offers the reader a vivid picture of the most typical religio-magical beliefs of ancient, medieval and modern times. Kurt Seligmann (1900–1962) was a Swiss born American Surrealist artist, who was known as a serious student of the occult, and for his bizarre and grotesque images. He is said to have died of an apparently accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1962. Curiously this book was one of the works recommended as “suggested reading” by Australian occultist Rosaleen Norton. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his ex-libris seal blind-stamped on the front free endpaper. Spine ends lightly bruised, page edges darkened and a bit discoloured, paper toned, text unmarked. Overall a solid VG + copy in G + dust jacket. (Dust jacket panels & edges rubbed and a little chipped, chafed at edges and folds, old tape repairs to verso, not price clipped and now protected by a removable mylar sleeve)