1682 - Infamous Defense of the Existence of Witchcraft and Ghosts
Joseph Glanvill (1636-1680) was an English clergyman, philosopher, and writer, best known as a passionate advocate for the emerging scientific method and a staunch defender of the Royal Society. Glanvill befriended and corresponded with the infamous "Witchfinder General," Matthew Hopkins, and even defended Hopkins' methods in his writings. Hopkins was notorious for using such methods as the Swimming Test. This involved tying the accused to a chair and throwing them into a body of water. If they floated, it was taken as evidence of guilt, as it was believed that water would reject those who had renounced their baptism. This often resulted in drowning.
Saducismus Triumphatus is Joseph Glanvill's most well-known work on the subject of witchcraft and apparitions. The title itself, meaning "The Sadducees Triumphant," is a reference to a Jewish sect that denied the existence of spirits and the afterlife, drawing a parallel to those who doubted the reality of witchcraft.
The book is a passionate defense of the existence of witches and other supernatural phenomena, arguing against skepticism and offering a collection of anecdotal evidence, personal accounts, and historical references to support his claims. It includes famous cases like the "Drummer of Tedworth," a poltergeist story, and descriptions of counter-magic practices like the witch bottle. H.P Lovecraft and Shirley Jackson both name drop this book in their writings.
1682. Glanvil, Joseph. Saducismus Triumphatus: or, Full and Plain Evidence Concerning Witches and Apparitions. In Two Parts… London: Thomas Newcomb for S. Lownds, 1682. Two 8vo parts in one, and others (see below). Second edition. Inserted frontispiece before part 2, and several intertextual woodcuts. Contemporary full calf, five raised bands. [xviii], 1-52, [x], 1-162, [vi], 78, [2, blank], [xii], 1-273, [1, blank], 67, [1 blank], 45, [1, blank], [xvi], 1-12. Binding worn, spine creased, previous owner’s ink notes and signature (“Tho: Walton”) on front pastedown, ffep lacking, last several leaves of ‘Kingdom of Sweden’ lacking, text toned, soiled, occasionally foxed. Good. Bound with An Answer to a Letter of a Learned Psychopyrist by Henry More (1681), A Continuation of the Collection… by Henry More (1682), A Whip for the Droll … by Henry More (1682), An Account of what happen’d in the Kingdom of Sweden… In Relation to some Persons that were accused for Witches… by Anthony Horneck (1682).
Joseph Glanvill (1636-1680) was an English clergyman, philosopher, and writer, best known as a passionate advocate for the emerging scientific method and a staunch defender of the Royal Society. Glanvill befriended and corresponded with the infamous "Witchfinder General," Matthew Hopkins, and even defended Hopkins' methods in his writings. Hopkins was notorious for using such methods as the Swimming Test. This involved tying the accused to a chair and throwing them into a body of water. If they floated, it was taken as evidence of guilt, as it was believed that water would reject those who had renounced their baptism. This often resulted in drowning.
Saducismus Triumphatus is Joseph Glanvill's most well-known work on the subject of witchcraft and apparitions. The title itself, meaning "The Sadducees Triumphant," is a reference to a Jewish sect that denied the existence of spirits and the afterlife, drawing a parallel to those who doubted the reality of witchcraft.
The book is a passionate defense of the existence of witches and other supernatural phenomena, arguing against skepticism and offering a collection of anecdotal evidence, personal accounts, and historical references to support his claims. It includes famous cases like the "Drummer of Tedworth," a poltergeist story, and descriptions of counter-magic practices like the witch bottle. H.P Lovecraft and Shirley Jackson both name drop this book in their writings.
1682. Glanvil, Joseph. Saducismus Triumphatus: or, Full and Plain Evidence Concerning Witches and Apparitions. In Two Parts… London: Thomas Newcomb for S. Lownds, 1682. Two 8vo parts in one, and others (see below). Second edition. Inserted frontispiece before part 2, and several intertextual woodcuts. Contemporary full calf, five raised bands. [xviii], 1-52, [x], 1-162, [vi], 78, [2, blank], [xii], 1-273, [1, blank], 67, [1 blank], 45, [1, blank], [xvi], 1-12. Binding worn, spine creased, previous owner’s ink notes and signature (“Tho: Walton”) on front pastedown, ffep lacking, last several leaves of ‘Kingdom of Sweden’ lacking, text toned, soiled, occasionally foxed. Good. Bound with An Answer to a Letter of a Learned Psychopyrist by Henry More (1681), A Continuation of the Collection… by Henry More (1682), A Whip for the Droll … by Henry More (1682), An Account of what happen’d in the Kingdom of Sweden… In Relation to some Persons that were accused for Witches… by Anthony Horneck (1682).
Joseph Glanvill (1636-1680) was an English clergyman, philosopher, and writer, best known as a passionate advocate for the emerging scientific method and a staunch defender of the Royal Society. Glanvill befriended and corresponded with the infamous "Witchfinder General," Matthew Hopkins, and even defended Hopkins' methods in his writings. Hopkins was notorious for using such methods as the Swimming Test. This involved tying the accused to a chair and throwing them into a body of water. If they floated, it was taken as evidence of guilt, as it was believed that water would reject those who had renounced their baptism. This often resulted in drowning.
Saducismus Triumphatus is Joseph Glanvill's most well-known work on the subject of witchcraft and apparitions. The title itself, meaning "The Sadducees Triumphant," is a reference to a Jewish sect that denied the existence of spirits and the afterlife, drawing a parallel to those who doubted the reality of witchcraft.
The book is a passionate defense of the existence of witches and other supernatural phenomena, arguing against skepticism and offering a collection of anecdotal evidence, personal accounts, and historical references to support his claims. It includes famous cases like the "Drummer of Tedworth," a poltergeist story, and descriptions of counter-magic practices like the witch bottle. H.P Lovecraft and Shirley Jackson both name drop this book in their writings.
1682. Glanvil, Joseph. Saducismus Triumphatus: or, Full and Plain Evidence Concerning Witches and Apparitions. In Two Parts… London: Thomas Newcomb for S. Lownds, 1682. Two 8vo parts in one, and others (see below). Second edition. Inserted frontispiece before part 2, and several intertextual woodcuts. Contemporary full calf, five raised bands. [xviii], 1-52, [x], 1-162, [vi], 78, [2, blank], [xii], 1-273, [1, blank], 67, [1 blank], 45, [1, blank], [xvi], 1-12. Binding worn, spine creased, previous owner’s ink notes and signature (“Tho: Walton”) on front pastedown, ffep lacking, last several leaves of ‘Kingdom of Sweden’ lacking, text toned, soiled, occasionally foxed. Good. Bound with An Answer to a Letter of a Learned Psychopyrist by Henry More (1681), A Continuation of the Collection… by Henry More (1682), A Whip for the Droll … by Henry More (1682), An Account of what happen’d in the Kingdom of Sweden… In Relation to some Persons that were accused for Witches… by Anthony Horneck (1682).