2006 98pp Society For Esoteric Endeavour. Illustrated. Printed with red embellishments on mould made 160 gramme Fabriano Ingres paper. Quarter bound dark blue goatskin over blue cloth boards, with gilt blocked (using pure gold) decoration down the full length of the spine, raised bands, top edge of the pages gilt (using pure gold leaf). Fine, housed in stout slipcase employing the same decorated paper and cloth employed in the binding of the book with a gilt blocked leather label giving the title on the front panel.
 
Ltd. ed. 5/120, being one of the first 12 copies, which has the gilt textblock edge.
 
In 1584 Reginald Scot published The Discoverie of Witchcraft. Scot was daringly sceptical as to the reality of witchcraft and opposed the persecution of witches, referring to witch hunters as “witchmongers”. This was a courageous position to take in 1584 and copies of his book were burnt when James ascended the English throne at the beginning of the 17th Century, the king himself having authored an anti-witchcraft book in response to Discoverie of Witches. Yet despite the witchcraft trials, as the century progressed Scot’s book was increasingly sought out not for his sceptical viewpoint but as a source for demonic and angelic lore by those who desired to practice magic. Conjuration and an Excellent Discourse of the Nature and Substance of Devils and Spirits appeared as appendices to the third edition of Scot’s Discoverie issued in 1665. This work provides a great deal of general information as to the magical regalia and practices of the conjurors of spirits.