Bergasse, Paulet, Servan, Sousselier de la Tour, Mead - A Mesmeric collection [all first editions] - 1704-1784

A collection of six FIRST EDITION texts on Mesmerism.

1. Nicolas Bergasse. Considerations sur le magnetisme animal, ou sur la Théorie du monde et des êtres organisés, d'après les principes de M. Mesmer. The Hague, n.p., 1784.

Octavo: 149 pages in modern boards. FIRST EDITION.

This important text caused the breakup of the relations between Bergasse and Mesmer. The book is full of indiscretions and denunciations of Mesmer. Nice copy. (Caillet I, 979).

2. Jean-Jacques Paulet, L’Antimagnetisme ou origine, progrès, décadence, renouvellement et réfutation du magnétisme animal. London: n.p. 1784.

Octavo: 252 pages in contemporary sheepskin.


FIRST edition.
The book is divided into 4 parts; in the first the author looks for traces of magnetism in the authors of the 16th and 17th centuries, the second is devoted to Mesmer and his theory, the third to Cathechism (sic) and the last offers numerous detailed notices on various famous touchers, on magic mirrors… The work is complete with its astonishing allegorical plate. Personal copy of Frédéric Lachèvre (1855-1943), bibliographer and literary critic, specialist in 17th century libertinism (ex-libris). Small scratches otherwise good copy (Caillet III, 8375).

3. and 4.
Joseph-Michel-Antoine Servan, Doutes d'un provincial, proposés à messieurs les médecins-commissaires chargés par le roi de l'examen du magnétisme animal. Lyon: Prault, 1784.
12mo: 126 pages. ‘Edition originale du plus habile plaidoyer qui ait été écrit en faveur du magnétisme’ (Caillet III, 10163).
FIRST edition.

-----. Questions du jeune docteur Rhubarbini de Purgandis adressées à Messieurs les docteurs-régents, de toutes les facultés de médecine de l'Univers, au sujet de M. Mesmer, & du magnétisme animal. Padua: dans le cabinet du docteur, 1784.
Octavo: 50 pages. Modern boards. FIRST edition. With a conversation reported between author and a Mesmerist (Caillet III, 10164).

5. Claude Sousselier de la Tour, L’Ami de la nature, ou manière de traiter les maladies par le prétendu magnétisme animal. Dijon: Capel, 1784.

Octavo: 175, 1 pages. In half-morocco. In this treatise the author explains the causes of diseases and gives several methods and processes for curing them, either by ‘sparkling electricity’ or by so-called animal magnetism… He concludes: “electric matter is the agent of nature ". Repair on the first 2 leaves, scattered light rings, otherwise good copy. Handwritten bookplate FIRST edition. (Caillet III, 10286).

6. Richard Mead, De imperio solis ac lunae in corpora humana et morbis inde oriundis. London: Raphaël Smith, 1704.

Octavo: 96 pages, bound in English contemporary calf (with cold pressed covers).

This is a FIRST edition of Richard Mead’s second book which deals with the importance of the sun and moon on the human body and on the illnesses it suffers. Mead believes that atmospheric pressure was affected by sun and moon and stars, which produced effects similar to those on oceanic tides. A very nice copy with restored spine.

The work appeared in later editions and in English (1748), but the first edition here is rare.

G-M writes: ‘Mead formulated the position that periodic atmospheric tides arising from planetary forces produced alterations of gravity, elasticity, and air pressure; these changes, he argued, affected the human body in health and disease. Mesmer's dissertation, which originated animal magnetism, was largely a plagiarism of Mead's work.’