Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions – 3 Volumes – Unique Extra Illustrated Set

3 volumes. EXTRA ILLUSTRATED. Pp. vi, 400; 406; 404. 5 engraved plates + 294 Extra engravings and illustrations (the earliest identifiable date being 1720), with a few engravings by Durer, Cruikshank, and Bartlett among many other masters. Amazingly, all illustrations are relevent to the book and bound-in at the appropriate places. Bound by “Bayntun, Binder, Bath, Eng.” in brown half-morocco and cloth, 5 raised bands, gilt panelled spine, all edges gilt.

Clean, sharp copy. Scarce in the first edition, with this extra illustrated being a unique, one-of-a-kind. Highly Collectible. “The subjects of Mackay’s debunking include economic bubbles, alchemy, crusades, witch-hunts, prophecies, fortune-telling, magnetisers (influence of imagination in curing disease), shape of hair and beard (influence of politics and religion on), murder through poisoning, haunted houses, popular follies of great cities, popular admiration of great thieves, duels, and relics. Present day writers on economics, such as Andrew Tobias and Michael Lewis, laud the three chapters on economic bubbles. Scientist and astronomer Carl Sagan mentioned the book in his own discussion about pseudoscience, popular delusions, and hoaxes.” – from Wikipedia. # 20954

Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street
1841
Toronto / Buffalo / London