THE NIGHT SIDE OF NATURE; OR, GHOSTS AND GHOST SEERS ... In Two Volumes. London: T. C. Newby, 72, Mortimer St., Cavendish Sq., 1848. 12mo, two volumes: pp. [i-v] vi-viii [1] 2-422 [423-424: blank]; [i-iv] [1] 2-384, original decorated brown cloth, front and rear panels stamped in blind, spine panels stamped in gold and blind, yellow coated endpapers. First edition. Crowe's most famous work, described by DAB as "one of the best collections of supernatural stories in our language." "British author, primarily of domestic romances, but best remembered for her three major compilations of ghost lore and legendry, which enjoyed considerable popularity among Victorian readers. The first of Crowe's anthologies, THE NIGHT SIDE OF NATURE (1848), was modestly described by the author as 'probably the best storehouse of ghost stories in the English language' and ran through many editions ... Crowe related her true narratives with many fictional devices, dialogue for example, which, far from being a detraction, add considerably to their flavor and charm. In these collections the line between fiction and journalism is, like the line between fact and fancy, a fine one indeed." - Sullivan (ed), The Penguin Encyclopedia of Horror and the Supernatural, p. 116. Ashley, Who's Who in Horror and Fantasy Fiction, p. 61. Tymn (ed), Horror Literature 2-27. Wilson, Shadows in the Attic, p. 165. Not in Bleiler (1948; 1978) or Reginald (1979; 1992). Sadleir 666. Wolff 1653. Armorial bookplate of Arthur Henry Davenport affixed to the front paste-down of each volume. Lower spine end of each volume lightly worn, top edges of sheets dusty, a nearly fine copy. An exceptionally nice copy of this classic. (#170388).
Price: $7,500.00
No statement of printing.