Lot 638
Magnetism and hypnotic trance, manuscript
Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographss | 10 May 2007
Description
240pp, manuscript in English, recording a series of visions received by a group working in Alexandria, North Egypt in 1797-1798, 4to, modern panelled sprinkled calf, c.1802; and a small manuscript volume entitled "Hours of sunshine" by George Hutchinson Swain, with references to vampires, c.236pp., 12mo, old calf, c.1822-23 (2)
Footnote
Note: The visions were achieved by means of "Magnetic Sleep", i.e. hypnotic trance, which points to the influence of Franz Mesmer and his pupil the Marquis de Puysegur. The medium, an Italian called Cesare, had magnetic passes made over his body by Baldvino, perceives visions of the Elysium fields and encounters various Gods and Godddesses, primarily from the Greek pantheon. The scenes he sees witnessed are narrated by a chorus and climax in a particular vision called "the Coronation of Silene". Actual members of the party in Alexandria also appear in the visions, namely Tirsi and Nice. During the Coronation of Silence the group is instructed that Cesare will relinquish his role as medium, to be replaced by Clio.
The group is very aware of the astronomical correlates of the deities they are dealing with, and the visions directly relate to astrological aspects. The manuscript would appear to be an English translation from Italian, and has been corrected in another hand with a view to publication, as was instructed, but the work was never published.
A striking aspect is the use of magnetic sleep to achieve clairvoyance about twenty years before Mesmer died. Their 'sessions' sound akin to seances yet they were working fifty years prior to the start of the modern spiritualist movement. The notion that human beings can encounter and have dealings with Gods and Goddesses underlies much twentieth century occultism.