First Edition thus, Scarce. "Drawn from the capital trials of 900 persons, more or less, who within the last fifteen years have in Lorraine paid the penalty of death for the crime of Witchcraft". In an era when the church and its people actually believed in a universal infection of heresy and sorcery, they turned to this book for guidance. Daemonolatreiae, first published in France in 1595, was the leading witchcraft handbook of its day. In addition to defining the black arts and their practitioners - making it possible to "recognise" witches - it offered civil and religious authorities directives for persecution of the accused and punishment of the condemned.
This is a Limited Edition copy, number 874 of 1,275.
4to. Publisher's cloth boards with gilt lettering to spine. Toning to edges of boards. Previous owner's armorial bookplate to pastedown. Fore-edge uncut. Age related toning to ages, otherwise clean and unmarked. Binding tight. Overall a very good + copy of this scarce work.
