AN EARLY POLTERGEIST HOAX IN STOCKWELL
An Authentic, Candid, and Circumstantial narrative, of the Astonishing Transactions at Stockwell, In the County of Surry, On monday and tuesday, the 6th and 7th Days of January, 1772, containing A Series of the most surprising and unaccountable Events that ever happened, which continued from first to last, upwards of Twenty Hours, and at different Places. Published with the COnsent and Approbation of the Family and other Parties concerned, to Authenticate which, the original Copy is signed by them.
London.
Printed for J. Marks, 1772.
First edition.
12mo.
23pp, [1]. With half-title. Uncut. Stitched, as issued, in original publisher's marbled paper wrappers. Heavily worn. Leaves browned and softened, tearing to gutters, long tear to half-title, short tears to title page and leaf A4, slight loss to fore-edge of leaf A3, affecting text but without loss of sense.
'A glass tumbler that was put on the floor jumped about two feet and then broke. Another that stood by it jumped about at the same time, but did not break till some hours after, when it jumped again and then broke. A china bowl that stood in the parlour jumped from the floor, to behind a table that stood there. This was most astonishing, as the difference from where it stood was between seven and eight feet, but it was not broke. It was put back by Richard Fowler, to its place, where it remained some time, and then flew to pieces.'
A rare contemporary account of a late eighteenth-century poltergeist hoax perpetrated on the family of the elderly Mrs Golding by their servant, Ann Robinson. In January 1772 strange 'surprising and unaccountable Events' began plaguing a household in Stockwell, including the smashing of crockery and falling of hams from hooks in the kitchen. Whilst the distinctly odd behaviour ('walking backwards and forwards, either in the kitchen or parlour') and calm demeanour of the recently-hired servant girl 'in the midst of such calamitous circumstances' is identified within, her own involvement - by using horsehairs and wires to move the objects in question - was not revealed until long after the events, and publication of this sensational account.
ESTC records copies at just seven locations in the British Isles (Advocates, BL, Cambridge, Guildhall, NLS, Sir John Soane's Museum, and St. Andrews), and a further two in North America (Marietta College and Yale).
A rare contemporary account of a late eighteenth-century poltergeist hoax perpetrated on the family of the elderly Mrs Golding by their servant, Ann Robinson. In January 1772 strange 'surprising and unaccountable Events' began plaguing a household in Stockwell, including the smashing of crockery and falling of hams from hooks in the kitchen. Whilst the distinctly odd behaviour ('walking backwards and forwards, either in the kitchen or parlour') and calm demeanour of the recently-hired servant girl 'in the midst of such calamitous circumstances' is identified within, her own involvement - by using horsehairs and wires to move the objects in question - was not revealed until long after the events, and publication of this sensational account.
ESTC records copies at just seven locations in the British Isles (Advocates, BL, Cambridge, Guildhall, NLS, Sir John Soane's Museum, and St. Andrews), and a further two in North America (Marietta College and Yale).
ESTC T111175.
£ 950.00
Antiquates Ref: 32901
