Mystic London or Phases of Occult Life in the British Metropolis by Charles Maurice Davies, D,D.
Publication: 1875 [undated] Lovell, Adam, Wesson & Company First Edition
The author, Charles Maurice Davies, was initially associated with the "high church" Anglicans, whose beliefs were more similar to Roman Catholicism than to Protestant traditions. Eventually, Davies relocated to Paris, where he taught Classics and Modern English. During this time, spiritualism was quite popular in Paris, and Davies' wife began experimenting with automatic writing. His brother was also interested in spiritualism, and Davies himself became convinced by the results of a séance.
After the death of his son in 1865, Davies committed himself to spiritualism. However, he did not become actively involved until August 1874, when he attended a spiritualist conference on Gower Street in London. He became a member of the British National Association of Spiritualists.
In 1875, he published "Mystic London," which includes over 46 chapters that explore various esoteric traditions in 19th-century London. Some of the sections include "London Arabs," "Tea and Experience," "Among the Quakers," "Darwinism and the Devil," "Interviewing an Astrologer," "Psychological Ladies," "Spiritual Athletes," "Spirit Forms," "Sitting with a Sibyl," "Spotting Mystic Mediums," and "A Séance for Skeptics," among others.
Condition:Publishers blue cloth boards, gilt title, publishers emblem and magic lamp tooling to spine, gilt tooling to cover, reare cover with ring significant ring marks, front cover with ring marks but only moderately noticeable, previous owner inscription in pencil dated 1880, pages clean, binding tight, overall still in very good condition, the book is protected in removable mylar which helps with the aesthetic flaws, overall in Very Good condition