B A U M A N R A R E B O O K S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 30 “THIS KNOTTY AND THORNY SUBJECT OF WITCHES”: FIRST EDITION OF WEBSTER ON WITCHCRAFT, 1677 30. WEBSTER, John. The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft… London, 1677. Quarto, period-style full black morocco, gilt decorated spine and boards, red morocco spine label, raised bands. $7500 Scarce first edition of Webster’s important treatise on witchcraft, which anticipates the modern psychological concept of the power of suggestion. A nonconformist preacher who left the pulpit to study metallurgy and medicine, Webster, in this “curious, learned and scarce work” (Kernot 10), responds to Meric Casaubon, Joseph Glanvill and Henry More, clerics “who applied the proof of fact… to show the existence of spirit to an age that appeared to them overly attracted to mechanism and materialism” (Landau, 205). A mystic and astrologer himself, “Webster acknowledged the existence of witches and their ability to work evil, but only through ‘meer natural means’ and not by the aid of the Devil” (University of Glasgow, The Damned Art). “Webster showed it was unnecessary to postulate supernatural forces for the action even of charms and incantations, since their ‘causality and efficiency is solely in the person imaginant and confident of receiving help… An early recognition of psychological phenomena which in the later 19th century were studied as suggestibility and suggestion especially under hypnosis” (Hunter & MacAlpine, 209). “Written with much piety, learning, acuteness and strength of argument” (Allibone, 2627). Without the imprimateur leaf, as often. With an additional leaves at rear; sometimes seen with three leaves at rear. The additional leaves are trimmed smaller, suggesting they may have been supplied from another copy. Wing W1230. Norman 2191. Osler 4202. OCEL I:157. Lowndes, 2864. Bookplates. Title page with only very light soiling, beautifully bound.
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