LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC ADDRESSED TO SIR WALTER SCOTT by BREWSTER, Sir David - 1834

1834. BREWSTER, Sir David. LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC ADDRESSED TO SIR WALTER SCOTT. London: John Murray, 1834. 24mo., brown quarter-calf leather & marbled boards; 351 pages. Illustrated. Second Edition- the first edition was published in 1832. Sir David Brewster was a Scottish physicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor, writer and university principal. Published at the request of Sir Walter Scott, this book provides natural explanations for the allegedly supernatural phenomena so popular in the nineteenth-century science, with topics ranging from optical illusions, automatons, effects caused by convex and concave mirrors, aural illusions, spontaneous combustion, an the wonders of chemistry. Many, many interesting subjects dealing with occult and supernatural (real, imagined or staged) with many illustrations. There are two overlay engravings on pages 119 & 121 with the small overlay on pg. 121 missing. The second edition seems fairly uncommon! Very Good (nice condition, clean & tight). $125.00.