L. W. Currey, Inc.

Anonymous. THE INFERNAL SECRET! OR, THE INVULNERABLE SPANIARD, WHO WAS FOR MANY YEARS TERMED THE TERROR OF MADRID! CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE WONDERS OF HIS WITHERED ARM, AND HIS CONNEXION WITH A HORDE OF DESPERATE BANDITTI, WHOM HE EMPLOYED TO IMPRISON AND SUBJUGATE THOSE WHO REFUSED TO SWEAR OBEDIENCE TO HIS WILL: ALSO, OF HIS UBIQUITY! OR POWER OF BEING IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE: HIS HELLISH COMPACT WITH THE POWERS OF DARKNESS! AND HIS AWFUL DEATH AT THE TERMINATION OF A CENTURY [cover title]. Boston: Printed by and for Henry Jenkins, 1831. Small quarto (20.5x14.5 cm), pp. [1-3] 4-21 [22] 23 [24: blank] printed self wrappers, untrimmed, sewn as issued. First U.S. edition. A supernatural tale set during the Spanish Inquisition in which Isidora, a rich widow, is pursued by Montilla, a supernatural fiend who must possess her to avoid expiration at the century's last midnight bell. His attempt to seduce the virtuous Isidora fails: "the hour of midnight tolled ... when the grey glimmering of morning light appeared, no traces of the stranger were to be discovered, but the skeleton arm and hand grasping a poniard." Following the story is a poem, "Montilla and Isidora, a Spanish legendary tale, on which the 'Infernal Secret' is supposed to have been founded." COPAC notes a few holdings of undated but contemporary London and Glasgow chapbook editions of this tale, likely one of these editions providing the source for this American edition. Outer leaves a bit tanned and lightly worn, a very good copy. OCLC reports four copies. There are additional copies at AAS and The Huntington Library. (#164585).

Price: $450.00