SUPERSTITIONS: Omens, Charms, Cures 1787

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.