Manual of Psychometry: The Dawn of a New Civilization
Boston: Holman Brothers, 1885. First Edition. Octavo, iv, 212, 194, 94 pages, publisher's original gilt decorated red cloth covered boards. First edition of Joseph Rodes Buchanan’s major work on psychometry, psychic perception, and 19th-century occult science. Buchanan, an American physician, reformer, and early theorist of psychical faculties, coined and popularized “psychometry” as the supposed ability to obtain knowledge from objects, handwriting, minerals, relics, medicines, and human subjects through touch or intuitive impression. In Manual of Psychometry, he presents the subject as a revolutionary new science applicable to medicine, psychology, biography, history, geology, archaeology, spiritualism, and religion — hence the subtitle, The Dawn of a New Civilization. A substantial and important American occult work, standing at the intersection of spiritualism, mesmerism, clairvoyance, parapsychology, alternative medicine, and 19th-century pseudoscientific speculation. Front hinge cracked, signs of bookplate removal, lacks rear free endpaper, slight discoloration, previous owner's notes and marginalia throughout, slight rubbing and wear, else in good + condition. Item #329
Price: $500.00