RARE FIRST EDITION of a 19th-century history of magic and mysticism throughout the ages and in different cultures by Jean Baptiste Pitois, also known as Jean Baptiste or Paul Christian (1811-1877). The book includes a very detailed description of secret societies and rituals, astrology and magical literature. Features 16 b&w plates and many in-text illustrations. 250x165mm. 666 pages. Original marbled quarter-cloth Hardcover with gilt lettering on spine. Front cover, rear cover and spine detached from book and from each other. Cover worn and scratched. Cover edges and corners bumped and worn. Endpapers upper corner near binding peeled. Previous owner`s name written in pencil on whitepage upper edge. Front and rear whitepages corners and edges slightly worn. Front whitepage, frontispiece and title-page almost detached from binding. Pages slightly yellowing and slightly age-stained. [SUMMARY]: Though in need of some external restoration, the inside of the book is preserved very well; accordingly this extremely rare book is still in good reading condition. Due to its external condition, this rare first edition is offered for a significantly reduced price.