Lot 712
Scot, Reginald
Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographss | 10 May 2007
Description
[The discoverie of witchcraft, wherein the lewde dealing of witches and witchmongers is notablie detected, the knaverie of conjurors, the impietie of inchantors, the follie of soothsaiers... are deciphered...] London: William Brome, [1584], First edition, 8vo, black letter together with some roman and italic, woodcut head and tailpieces, numerous ornamental initials, lacking title, Sii - Svii [pp.243-54], Ti-Tviii [pp.257-72], Uiii [pp.277-78], Uvi [pp.283-84], Ppi [pp.513-14], 2 leaves of instruments, 4 pages of engravings between pp.352-53, woodcut removed from pp.415 [Conjurers breastplate], later calf, worn, upper board lacking top right corner, heavy staining to Aii, repairs throughout, some leaves loose. Sold not subject to return.
Footnote
Note: Mellon, Alchemy, 47; STC 21864; Caillet 10061
In this early, and important, work on witchcraft Scot notes that there is no religious or rational basis for the belief in witchcraft and magic. He exposes conjuring tricks and illusions and argues that spiritualistic manifestations were wilful impostures or illustions due to mental disturbance in the observers. King James VI attempted to confute Scot in his Daemonologie (1597) and when he came to the throne of England ordered Scot's work to be burned.