THE MECHANISM OF MAN. An Answer to the Question What Am I ? Vol.I. The Mechanism (1876), WHAT AM i? An Introductiojn tp Psychology. Vol. II The Mechanism in Action (1874) (2 vols)

This is a little odd because Vol. I appears to have been published after Vol. ii, but Preface to this, dated 1874 as on t.p. refers to critics of Volume I, yet the 1876-dated Preface to Volume I states that second volume will appear later 'this year', but is followed by a 'reprint' of original Preface, this must however be a 2nd printed of 1874 first with an additional Preface as Vol. II details show (see below). . Vol.I is in brown stippled cloth with blind-stamped border-lines to front and gilt spine lettering, spine slightly faded otherwise unworn bar trivial hint of spine end rubbing; Vol.II is identical but in black cloth and has slight spine end wear and outer corner bumping.Vol.I: Notice for The Psychological Society of Great Britain (PSGB hereafter) + xxii + 507 + (1 author list)early heraldic book-plate with note to fr. pastedown, verso fr. end-paper has penciled note 'Lewis Carrolls copy' though no other evidence of this, otherwise internally clean and unmarked though front end gutter a little weak ; Vol.II : PSGB Prospectus with notice for Vol.I on verso with press opinions + xxii +442 + (3, author's and 2 other lists); front pastedown as Vol.i otherwise internally clean, tight and unmarked. Rare as a set. From the library of the eminent Dr Alan Gauld (1932-2014), psychologist and parapsychologist, formerly Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Nottingham, President of the Society for Psychical Research (1989-1992) and author of numerous books on spiritualism, paranormal phenomena and the history of hypnosis. Both Vols have his small ex libris label to fr. pastedown and small sig. top facing end-paper. Cox's PSGB materialized in 1875 and lasted until 1879, the year of his death. He pioneered both psychic research (actually coining the term 'psychic' in its modern sense and psychology in general, but has unjustly been largely forgotten in the shadows of Bain, Sully, Spencer, Romanes etc. Not an academic, he was primarily a lawyer, publisher and some-time politician. 14 cm x 20.5 cm.…