The History of Spiritualism Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The History of Spiritualism by Arthur Conan Doyle ***Complete in two volumes. Both volumes with their scarce dust jackets. True first editions, published in London by Cassell*** Overall condition: VG/G to VG Synopsis: A thorough account of the Spiritualist movement which began in 1848 with the Fox Sisters. Doyle was one of the loudest and best-known evangelists for the movement in the early twentieth century. Doyle provides evidence and information on the Spiritualist mediums who led the way. Includes fascinating discussions about the occult, psychics, spirits, mediums, paranormal investigations, psychic healing, ectoplasm, the afterlife, hauntings, levitation and automatic writing. Published in 1926 by Cassell in London. First edition, first printing with "first published in 1926" statement on copyright page with no other impressions listed. In their original blue cloth covered boards with gilt lettering. Octavo, 9.5" x 6.5". Collated and complete, including all 16 plates. With their scarce original first state dust jackets. ABOUT DOYLE & SPIRITUALISM Doyle, the creator of the most famous scientifically minded detective renowned for his abilities of perception and deductive and inductive reasoning, was himself, in contrast, a fervent believer and promoter of the occult and spiritualism. Writing to spiritualist journal Light that year, he declared himself to be a spiritualist, describing one particular event that had convinced him psychic phenomena were real. Writing to spiritualist journal Light that year, he declared himself to be a spiritualist, describing one particular event that had convinced him psychic phenomena were real. He wrote a piece in the journal about his faith and began lecturing frequently on spiritualism. In 1918, he published his first spiritualist work, The New Revelation. Doyle found solace in supporting spiritualism's ideas and the attempts of spiritualists to find proof of an existence beyond the grave and was a member of the supernaturalist organization The Ghost Club. In 1920, Doyle travelled to Australia and New Zealand on spiritualist missionary work, and over the next several years, until his death, he continued his mission, giving talks about his spiritualist conviction in Britain, Europe, and the United States. CONDITION REPORT: VG/G Books are in VERY GOOD condition for a nearly 100-year-old set. Square spines, firm bindings. Colorful cloth. Rubbing to extremities and a few spots of rubbing on front cover of Volume II and light rubbing all along a large section at the foot of the rear cover in Volume I. A few corners lightly bumped. Pages are lightly toned and generally clean and bright. Endpapers with some light spots of soiling. Some foxing to a few preliminary pages of Volume I. No writing or ex libris marks. Signs of handling: some bent page corners, a few light creases, several pages with small margin tears or chips, a few small smudges. The dust jackets are in Good to VERY GOOD condition. Volume I is in Good- to Good condition. Has a large chip/section of loss across the head of the spine. Multiple closed tears with tape to both sides of the jacket. Some rubbing and soiling. Sun-browned spine. Edge wear creasing and small light tears and chips. Toning to folds and head and foot of jacket. Volume II is in VG- to VG condition. Edge wear chipping, small tears, creases. Some rubbing and spots of soiling. Sun-browned spine. Toning to folds and head and foot of jacket.