PHANTASMS: ORIGINAL STORIES ILLUSTRATING POSTHUMOUS PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER ...
London: The Roxburghe Press, [1894]. Octavo, pp. [1-7] 8-234 [235-236: ads] + 36-page catalogue (printed in green) inserted at rear, inserted frontispiece with illustration by K. Pleydell Young, title page printed in light green, original bevel-edged yellow-green cloth, front and spine panels stamped in black, brown coated endpapers, all edges untrimmed, slate coated endpapers. First edition. Weird stories "collected" by spiritualist investigator Horace Vesey, a transitional figure between Le Fanu's Dr. Hesselius and later occult detectives. A strong sense of unseen horror pervades these tales, particularly the novella "Mysterious Maisie," a significant work in the 1890's horror revival. Very scarce; Hugh Lamb goes further, citing this as "one of the rarest items in the macabre fiction collector's list" and praises the collection for "the sheer exuberance of its special effects." The 36-page introduction is particularly interesting. Greener, UK writer and secret agent, was noted primarily for his still-valuable bibliography of guns and shooting. [Reference: Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 90. Bleiler (1978), p. 81. Reginald 05902]. Inked signature to half title page, mild rubbing to front cover, light rubbing to corner tips and spine ends and edges, spine slightly darkened, partial ring stain to rear cover. A scarce book. (23160). Item #23160
Price: $1,250.00