First published in 1787 as ' A Provincial Glossary, with a Collection of Local Proverbs, and Popular Superstitions', this Bodleian Library clothbound pocket-sized edition retains all the archaic original text and beautiful woodcut artworks. 'It's unlucky to walk under a ladder; it may prevent your being married that year.' Here are superstitions, ghosts and witches, sorcerers and magicians, fairies, second-sight, omens portending death, charms and ceremonies for knowing future events, superstitious cures and preventatives, sympathy, things lucky and unlucky and miscellaneous superstitions. For example, 'The ass has a cross on its back, ever since Christ rode on one of these animals.' 'It is unlucky to present a knife, sissors (sic), razor, or any sharp or cutting instrument, to one's mistress or friend, as they are apt to cut love and friendship.' Fairly large print, 104 tiny pages.
Additional product information
