Le Livre Des Prodiges - The Book of Wonders Published 1802 Rare and Important Book 180 Pages All Complete
This an extremely rare first edition of this book. A 4th edition from 1808 is currently on sale on Ebay for 505 euros - plus shipping!!
The chateau at Serignac near Agen in France has been in the ownership of the current family for over 100 years and this book was found in the grenier, which is a bit like the grand daddy of all attics, of the chateau and it belonged to the previous family. Having been published in 1802 it has just celebrated its 217th birthday.
It is an important book because it is essentially a collection of spooky stories and, according to Warwick University rare book department, it was the first of its kind in the genre.
http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/103083/7/WRAP-from-Villa-Diodati-Villa-Gabriell-manuscript-appendix-Fantasmagoriana-2018.pdf
The preface is really cool. The Book of Wonders - or Or wonderful and remarkable stories and adventures of Spectra, Zombies, Spirits, Ghosts, Demons etc whose facts and events are reported by the worthy people of the law.
The editor then goes on to say: My goal is to amuse you and not to scare you.
Well, that didn't work!
What is also interesting is the inscription on the front page of the book as it says it was presented to Citizen Cadet Moureau in 1806. As if fighting the combined armies of Europe in Napoleon's forces wasn't scary enough, his friend gave him a book of ghost stories. It brings to mind the old adage "With friends like that ...............
The outer cover of the book is still solid but has suffered a bit of damp over the centuries. However, inside all the pages are still firmly fixed and it is a pleasure to read. It is not large at 16 x 10 x 2 cm so just right for a uniform pocket.
This an extremely rare first edition of this book. A 4th edition from 1808 is currently on sale on Ebay for 505 euros - plus shipping!!
The chateau at Serignac near Agen in France has been in the ownership of the current family for over 100 years and this book was found in the grenier, which is a bit like the grand daddy of all attics, of the chateau and it belonged to the previous family. Having been published in 1802 it has just celebrated its 217th birthday.
It is an important book because it is essentially a collection of spooky stories and, according to Warwick University rare book department, it was the first of its kind in the genre.
http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/103083/7/WRAP-from-Villa-Diodati-Villa-Gabriell-manuscript-appendix-Fantasmagoriana-2018.pdf
The preface is really cool. The Book of Wonders - or Or wonderful and remarkable stories and adventures of Spectra, Zombies, Spirits, Ghosts, Demons etc whose facts and events are reported by the worthy people of the law.
The editor then goes on to say: My goal is to amuse you and not to scare you.
Well, that didn't work!
What is also interesting is the inscription on the front page of the book as it says it was presented to Citizen Cadet Moureau in 1806. As if fighting the combined armies of Europe in Napoleon's forces wasn't scary enough, his friend gave him a book of ghost stories. It brings to mind the old adage "With friends like that ...............
The outer cover of the book is still solid but has suffered a bit of damp over the centuries. However, inside all the pages are still firmly fixed and it is a pleasure to read. It is not large at 16 x 10 x 2 cm so just right for a uniform pocket.
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