Inscribed first printing of this early, authorized biography of Doyle, written by an acquaintance sympathetic to his later Spiritualist convictions and presented "with reverent gratitude" to famed trance medium Louisa Meurig Morris.
Near fine.
Price: $600.00
"For Spiritualism to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a religion."
Lamond, the only major Doyle biographer to share his Spiritualist beliefs, makes special mention of the "remarkable discourses being delivered by Mrs. Meurig Morris at the Fortune Theatre, London" in his later chapters on life after death. One of these discourses is preserved in the first film recording of a séance ever made, a 1931 British Movietone News production featuring Morris's spirit control, "Power," and spotlighting audience members Jean and Denis Conan Doyle, hopeful communicants with ACD some six months after his departure from the physical realm. Lady Conan Doyle was also a witness in a 1932 libel suit brought by Morris against the Daily Mail, which dared to claim the medium had been "found out." A remarkable association copy.
Read more: Hazelgrove, Spiritualism and British Society Between the Wars.
First edition (stated). London: John Murray, (1931). 8.5'' x 5.5''. Original gilt-lettered blue cloth. Lacking original dust jacket. Illustrated with nine plates, including frontispiece. 310 pages, followed by publisher's advertisements. Inscribed by Lamond "To Mrs. Meurig Morris / the inspired Handmaid / of 'Power' with reverent / gratitude from / John Lamond, London, 7th December, 1931." This copy subsequently from the library of noted Sherlockian, BSI member since 1973, and retired US magistrate judge Andrew Peck. Small closed tear and corner chip to age 143. Light foxing to edges of text block, minor wear to boards.
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