1929 Scarce Limited First Edition - The Pow-Wow and the Witch Murder Trial
Author: A. Monroe Aurand Jr. and John George Hohman
Title: The Pow-Wow Book. Three Volumes in One: The Pow-Wow Book; An Account of the “Witch” Murder Trial; and Pow-Wows or Long Lost Friend
Publisher: Harrisburg, The Aurand Press, 1929. First Edition No. 566 of a limited edition of 1,000 copies.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9 x 6.5 inches.
Pages: x-85, 31, 64 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good original publisher’s bright orange cloth binding with black witch-on-broomstick vignette within a triangle on upper board and spine (hinges fine, overall slightly scuffed - as shown) In the original tan dust jacket featuring matching illustration (good jacket chipped with edgewear and loss, particularly along upper edge and spine ends - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing - as shown, ex-libris of a previous owner on the first endpaper - as shown).
Illustrations: Illustrated with a frontispiece and some black-and-white vignettes.
Estimate: (USD 450 – 550).
The book: A scarce and desirable 1929 limited edition omnibus volume privately printed by The Aurand Press, collecting three key texts of Pennsylvania-German folk magic and occult belief:
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The Pow-Wow Book by A. Monroe Aurand Jr. — A folkloric and historical overview of Pennsylvania Dutch “pow-wowing” (a system of folk healing by prayer, charms, and rites), with essays on the psychology, cultural origins, and superstitions tied to the practice.
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An Account of the “Witch” Murder Trial — A firsthand account of the infamous 1929 York County murder trial of a suspected witch, an extraordinary intersection of crime and folk belief in modern America.
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Pow-Wows; or, Long Lost Friend by John George Hohman — A complete reprint of the classic 19th-century American grimoire filled with charms, cures, and protective rituals, long revered in Pennsylvania Dutch communities.
Hand-numbered, from a print run of 1,000 copies (of which 100 were signed). A seminal collection in the study of American folk medicine, superstition, and esoteric traditions.
The author: A. Monroe Aurand Jr. (1895–1958) was an American folklorist, historian, and publisher deeply immersed in preserving the heritage of Pennsylvania Germans. His extensive research into regional dialects, customs, and occult practices has made his work a cornerstone in the field. This edition showcases his dedication to both scholarship and preservation.
The compiler: John George Hohman (fl. early 1800s) was a German-American printer and healer who compiled traditional folk remedies and charms from oral and European sources. His Long Lost Friend remains one of the most iconic American folk magic texts, influencing generations of healers and occultists.