MALLEUS MALEFICARUM. Translated with an Introduction, Bibliography and Notes by the Rev. Montague Summers

SUMMERS, Montague [translator]. [SPRENGER, Jacobus and Heinrich Kramer]

Published by Dover Publications / Peter Smith, New York, 1971

Octavo, original red cloth, spine lettered in black. [i], ii-xlv, [1], 2-277, [278] pp., Frontispiece portrait of Pope Innocentius VIII. The sheets of the 1971 Dover edition; this hardcover issue was by Peter Smith in June, 1971, primarily for the library trade. The "Peter Smith" imprint is at the base of the spine panel. A fine copy, without dust jacket, as issued. Extremely scarce, copies were made up for the library trade and uncirculated copies in top condition are rarely encountered. The Malleus Maleficarum (the Hammer of Witches) was originally published in 1486. It has been described as a compendium of the literature in demonology of the 15th century. It has for it's authority the "Summis desiderantes affectibus" a Papal Bull regarding witchcraft issued by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484, which was written in response to the request of Inquisitor Heinrich Kramer for explicit authority to prosecute witchcraft in Germany. The first English translation was not done until Montague Summers translated it for publication by John Rodker in 1929; there were two editions published by The Pushkin Press in 1948 and 1951, there was also a Folio Society edition (London, 1968) followed by the Dover & Peter Smith editions of 1971. The copyright page on the current edition states "This Dover edition, first published in 1971, is an unabridged republication of the work originally published by John Rodker, London, in 1928. It also contains an Introduction by Rev. Montague Summers prepared for the 1948 reprint.". Seller Inventory # 313928

Bibliographic Details

Title: MALLEUS MALEFICARUM. Translated with an ...
Publisher: Dover Publications / Peter Smith, New York
Publication Date: 1971
Binding: Hardcover
Edition: Reprint.