WEBSTER, JOHN. 
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The Displaying of supposed Witchcraft [...] Wherein also is handled, The Existence of Angels and Spirits, the truth of Apparitions, the Nature of Astral and Sydereal Spirits, the force of Charms, and Philters; with other abstruse matters. Printed by J.M. [Jonas Moore] and are to be sold by the Booksellers in London, 1677. Folio. Imprimatur leaf + (14) + 346 + (4) pages [complete]. 19th century half calf binding with five raised bands, black title-label to spine, marbled boards. Some rubbing to the spine. Some edgewear. The outer hinges have a bit cracked, but still holding firmly. First leaf with reinforced lower outer corner. First leaves soiled and dark due to age. Small cut-out to titlepage with loss of three words ‘has carnal copulation’ [which obvoiusly has been too daring!]. Pp. (15/16) with some stains in outer margin. P. 225/226 with a small (1x3 mm) hole with loss of a single letter. Page 283 with a brown stain in lower margin. Some light foxing. Professionally repaired long tear in last leaf. Missing last blank leaf. From the library of the psychiatrist Denis Leigh, with his name label on fly-leaf. Some contemporary annotations at outer margin occur.
First edition of this important book balancing between withcraft and early psychiatry. Webster did not completely deny the existance of witches, but insisted that most of the accused women were not possessed by or interacting with demons, but were mentally ill and needed treatment and care more than burning at the stakes. He points out that hard evidence of witchcraft is non-existant, as claims were being made by witnesses (who could hold a grudge against the accused woman) or by finding so-called Devil's Marks (birthmarks) on the witches body, which most people have.
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Sachgebiete: Geschichte, Occulta
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