1896 Hypnotism Mesmerism & New Witchcraft Hart Occult Psychology Illustrated For Sale

Early psychology / hypnotism / mesmerism / occult history. A fascinating nineteenth-century investigation of hypnosis, animal magnetism, hysteria, supernatural claims, automatic writing, mediumship, mental suggestion, and what author Ernest Hart regarded as the “new witchcraft” surrounding unexplained psychological phenomena.

Written by prominent English surgeon and medical journalist Ernest Hart and published in New York by D. Appleton and Company in 1896. This is the enlarged new edition, substantially expanded from the original 1893 work with additional chapters on “The Eternal Gullible,” the hypnotism of Trilby, automatic writing, and the celebrated medium Eusapia Paladino.

Hart approaches mesmerism and supernatural claims from a skeptical medical perspective, examining the boundary between genuine psychological phenomena, suggestion, hysteria, deception, and popular belief. The volume includes 212 pages and 24 illustrations depicting hypnotic subjects, experimental methods, control objects, and related demonstrations.

An excellent original-period work for collectors of early psychology, hypnosis, mesmerism, psychical research, spiritualism, medical history, paranormal investigation, and forgotten belief systems.

Original blue cloth hardcover with gilt spine lettering. Binding remains intact and the gilt title is clear. Condition shows considerable age and use, including cloth loss and fraying at the head of the spine, rubbing and marks to the boards, bumped and worn corners, age-toned page edges, and moderate-to-heavy foxing throughout, including the title page and illustrated leaves. No dust jacket is present.

Despite the cosmetic wear, this remains an attractive and increasingly difficult-to-find original 1896 edition with compelling subject matter and numerous period illustrations. Please examine every photograph carefully for the exact condition.

SKU V-2