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August the two women visited Versailles. There they experienced unexplained symptoms and encountered a host of strange characters, all of whom were in historical dress, and apparently from Versailles just prior to the execution of Marie Antoinette. It was not until the two were back in Oxford in November that they talked through the events at length, at which point they each decided to write out an account of that afternoon, to compare their experiences. They began a process of research into the grounds and history of Versailles, including two further trips to the palace, during which they identified all of those they had seen with members of the court or staff of 1792. This work prompted intense scrutiny upon publication and was investigated in the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research. Several attempts were made to debunk the women’s story, with some explicitly homophobic arguments when the authors’ identities were revealed. It has become a long-lasting and influential point of paranormal discussion. Octavo. Original blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt, fleur de lys device in gilt to front board. Spine toned, small splash mark to front board, overall a bright copy in very good condition. £2,250 [145924]
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118 MOBERLY, Charlotte Anne, & Eleanor Jourdain, as Elizabeth Morison & Frances Lamont. An Adventure. London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1911 First edition of perhaps the most famous “time slip” case in the literature. The first impression is extremely uncommon; the book was an unexpected and controversial sensation and the small initial print run soon sold out. It consequently ran to four
impressions in three months. The identities of the anonymous authors were not made public until 1931. The work explores in detail the mysterious events that occurred to two learned women while visiting Versaille in the summer of 1901. In August of that year the Principal of St Hugh’s College, Oxford, Charlotte “Annie” Moberly (1846–1937), accompanied by Eleanor Jourdain (1863–1924), who was about to take up the position of Vice Principal at the college, went on holiday to Paris with the intention of cementing their personal and working relationship. On 10
All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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