SPIRIT RAPPING UNVEILED! An Expose of the Origin, History, Theology and Philosophy of Certain Alleged Communications from the Spirit World, By Means of Spirit Rapping, Medium Writing, Physical Demonstrations, Etc. Tapa dura - 1853

New York: Mason Brothers, 1853. 192 pages. Illustrated with in-text wood engravings. Binding is embossed brown cloth, with gilt lettering on front cover. Hiram Mattison (1811-1868) was a prominent Methodist minister in New York, who, in addion to his opposition to fraudulent psychics, was an active proponent of temperance and abolition of slavery. In this book he debunks his era's fad of "spirit-rapping" and other practices by which mediums or spiritualists claim to communicate with the dead. As Mattison states in the preface, spirit-rapping "is the grand climax of soothsaying, astrology, witchcraft, phrenology, mesmerism, clairvoyance, Psychology, Fourierism, Millerism, Mormonism, and all other superstitions, delusions, and isms that have ever been, or probably ever will be." The book is in about very good condition: clean and tight, with some minor edgewear and shallow chipping of cloth at head and foot of spine. Pages are moderately foxed. Previous owner's name in pencil on front free endpaper. . First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good-/No Dust Jacket, as Issued. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Book.