La Sorcellerie, Aventure de Cagliostro, Mesmer et Le Magnetisme Animal; 3 volumes bound as one

Full Title: La Sorcellerie, Aventure de Cagliostro, Mesmer et Le Magnetisme Animal; 3 volumes bound as one

Translated from French: Witchcraft, Adventure of Cagliostro, Mesmer and Animal Magnetism

12mo. Quarter red calf with blindstamp ruled edges over marbled boards. Spine with four gilt decorated raised bands, gilt title/author to second compartment, additional authors in gilt to fourth. Marbled endpapers, all edges lightly speckled red.

Three 1st edition "occult" books bound together, originally paperbacks sold at train stations. Franz Anton Mesmer was a German physician with an interest in astronomy. He theorized the existence of a natural energy transference occurring between all animated and inanimate objects; this he called "animal magnetism", sometimes later referred to as mesmerism.

Animal magnetism, also known as mesmerism, was a protoscientific theory developed by German doctor Franz Mesmer in the 18th century in relation to what he claimed to be an invisible natural force (Lebensmagnetismus) possessed by all living things, including humans, animals, and vegetables. He claimed that the force could have physical effects, including healing. He tried persistently, without success, to achieve a wider scientific recognition of his ideas.

The vitalist theory attracted numerous followers in Europe and the United States and was popular into the 19th century. Practitioners were often known as magnetizers rather than mesmerists. It had an important influence in medicine for about 75 years from its beginnings in 1779, and continued to have some influence for another 50 years. Hundreds of books were written on the subject between 1766 and 1925, but it is no longer practiced today except as a form of alternative medicine in some places.

Magic, Druidism, Satanism, and Alchemy, Ch. Louandre retraces the fascinating history of Witchcraft, its beliefs and instruments. Italian Occultist Cagliostro was an adventurer and self-styled magician associated with the royal courts of Europe where he pursued various occult arts, including psychic healing, alchemy, and scrying.

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