The Idyll of the White Lotus by Mabel Collins
1896 Third Edition Theosophical Publishing Society
Mabel Collins, the English theosophist best known for her work “Light on the Path” claimed that during the writing of the book, "she had been absolutely taken from her body in order that her hand and pen might be used by another intelligence."
Years later, upon joining the TS, she showed the unfinished manuscript to H.S. Olcott then visiting Europe with H.P. Blavatsky . Mabel told him that the text was written either in trance or under dictation by an unseen character, but the inspiration had ceased. Col. Olcott recommended that, if she had ever thought of making money by publishing the book, she should give up such a thought and try again. She did so and the writing of the Idyll was completed in the same manner. The book was dedicated by her "To the True Author, the Inspirer of this work."
Condition: original green boards, gilt title on spine and front board, beveled edges, the spine is darkened and some dulling to the title on the spine, all pages remain clean with no markings, this is an association copy that once belonged to John Watkins, friend of Madame Blavatsky and revered occult book cataloguer and publisher; as the bookplate on the back flyleaf suggests.