The Zoist: A Journal of Cerebral Physiology & Mesmerism and Their Applications to Human Welfare (Complete Run in 13 Volumes)
London, Paris, & Leipzig: Hippolyte Balliere, J.B. Balliere, & T.O. Wiegel; Arthur Hall, Virtue & Co., 1843-1856.
Complete run of the publication in 13 volumes. Various cloth bindings: vols. 7 & 11 are original, the others are in 20th century institutional cloth. A Fair+ ex-library set deaccessioned from the John Wilson Special Collection with typical markings such as call numbers written on spines, bookplates on paste downs, etc. Handwritten table of contents inserted in the first three volumes; the other volumes have printed TOC pasted to prelims. The two volumes in original cloth have chips and wear; spine of Vol. 11 has clear tape on it, missing lower third, and its front hinge has a crude tape repair. Front board of Vol. 7 detached but present. Front hinge of Vol. X has tape repair. Contents generally sound despite a few split hinges, associated wrinkling from pasted-in TOC, and a few marginal notes, generally bright. Several diagrams, illustrations, and one fold-out chart. Scarce in the trade as complete set.
A journal of psychology and science as they were understood in the mid-19th century, focusing on mesmerism (today known as hypnotism) and phrenology, the divination of human psychology from skull shapes. Ironically, given that most of theories herein would today be considered pseudoscience, The Zoist's guiding philosophy was materialist first and foremost-- the journal defining itself from competitors by being rooted in scientific, physical realities rather than metaphysics. It was well-respected by the intelligentsia, with readers such as Thackeray and Dickens. Towards the end of its run it focused more on spiritualism. It was published quarterly, without a break, for nearly thirteen years.
Price: $4,000.00