THE MONOMANIAC: OR, SHIRLEY HALL ASYLUM. New York: James G. Gregory, 540, Broadway, 1864. 12mo, pp. [1-7] 8 [9] 10-432, flyleaves at front and rear, publisher's decorated gray cloth, front and rear panels stamped in blind, spine panel stamped in gold, light yellow endpapers. First U.S. edition. A collection of linked stories first published anonymously in 1863. "William Gilbert (1804-1890) UK writer, father of W. S. Gilbert; also one of the pioneers of psychiatric medicine. He drew upon his work in that field in two notable collections of hypothetical case-studies, SHIRLEY HALL ASYLUM: OR THE MEMOIRS OF A MONOMANIAC (1863) and DOCTOR AUSTIN'S GUESTS (1866). Although not fantasy as such, the tales offer interesting early descriptions of the various kinds of delusions to which people may fall victim: the first volume includes an imaginary haunting and an account of religious mania; the second features a man who believes he is getting younger and a man who believes himself possessed." - Clute and Grant (eds), The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, p. 409. Barron (ed), Horror Literature 2-31. Not in Bleiler (1948; 1978), Reginald (1979; 1992) or Hubin (1994). Sadleir 962. Early owner's penciled signature at the top edge of the rear paste-down. Shallow chip from upper spine end, partial hairline crack along inner front hinge, pulpy text paper tanned (less than usual), a very good copy. The 1863 British edition is rare; this 1864 American edition is pretty scarce. (#171863).
Price: $500.00
No statement of printing.