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A Treatise of SPECTERS 

1605

This is the first English Edition of A Treatise of Specters or Strange Sights, Visions and Appartitions by Pierre Le Loyer (1550 to 1634), a famed lawyer from Angers who studied materializations. London: Printed by Val S[immes]For Mathew Lownes; 1605. Rebound in FINE 3/4 gilt dark English calf and marbled boards. [8] [145] with Table of Contents at the end of book.The size of book is 4to (approx. 5 1/2 inches x 7 1/4 inches tall). The last three pages of the book have been re-enforced on Japon Vellum with some text loss. Occasional staining. Binding in Fine condition, text is in Very Good Antiquarian Condition - A Very Nice copy!

The first French edition of this work appeared in 1586. In 1605, Loyer’s 2nd French edition appeared, and also at this time appeared the first English edition which is much rarer. Translated into English by Zachary Jones from the French edition of 1586, Le Loyer’s learned treatise on the subject of spirits, apparitions, and ghosts was enormously popular in Shakespeare’s time, and may well have served as a source for Macbeth.