New York. 1847. Harper & Brothers. First U.S. Edition. Two volumes. A critical study of the history of magic, in which the author argued that the belief in magic was often encouraged by priestly and other ruling castes as a way of keeping control of the populace. He goes on to expose many rituals for their trickery. Total of 648 pages+. Original brown cloth covers with blind stamping and gilt embellishment. Some rubbing and chipping to the spines and corner bumps, otherwise a very good copy of this important work.