By Wasson, Valentina Pavlovna And R. New York: Pantheon Books.. Very good overall, 2 volume set. With Eighty-five beautiful full-page plates, twenty-six of which are executed in lush, vibrant color pouchoir; produced by Daniel Jacomet in Paris and the remaining collotypes printed in fine detail by Fratelli Alinari, Florence. All plates have their original tissue guards. Fold-out chart is present in the rear pocket. Edition limited to 512 numbered sets worldwide. Book designed by Hans Mardersteig and printed at the Stamperia Valdonega, Verona, Italy. Original cloth slipcase, bound in green buckram, red gilt labels on spine, top edges gilt, with original glassine dust jackets glassine slightly yellowed and chipped at the spines. Smallest suggestion of wear, a surperb set. Gordon Wasson was an investment banker with J. Morgan, and with his wife Valentina Pavlovna spent twenty years researching and writing this encyclopedic work, incorporating ethnographic analysis, literature survey, and lore of the sacred psilocybe mushroom. The book recounts Wassons’ first encounter with Mazatec curandera (healer) Maria Sabina in the mountains of Southern Mexico and his first direct experience with psilocybe which led Wasson to conclude that mushrooms did possess magical powers. In the 1960’s it is alleged that the text inspired the’rediscovery’ of the magic mushroom by Timothy Leary and countless others during the worldwide psychedelic counterculture movements. It remains the most comprehensive and desirable publications concerning sacred (or magic) mushrooms. Published in 1957 and was co-written with Wasson’s wife Valentina. Wasson’s wife was a Russian who was raised in a Baltic country so there is an emphasis on Mushroom culture in Russia. Also chapters on famous murders by poisoning using mushrooms, the Toad and its relation in European folk beliefs to Mushrooms. It talks about how Toads and Mushrooms were seen as emissaries of satan after Christianity took hold in Europe. Plenty on the Mushroom as well. Plus its full of many beautiful full page plates of mushrooms and related artwork. Volume two has considerable information about indigenous culture in the mountains of Mexico and their religious use of Mushrooms. There are also photos of ceremonies as well as even more details of mushrooms in Europe and mushroom related art. The item “Mushrooms, Russia and History / Gordon Wasson / Psychedelic Magic Mushrooms BOOK” is in sale since Thursday, August 22, 2019. This item is in the category “Books\Antiquarian & Collectible”. The seller is “reptiles” and is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This item can be shipped to United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Jamaica, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Viet nam, Uruguay.
- Character Family: Magic Mushroooms
- Modified Item: No
- Subject: History
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Italy
- Author: Valentina Pavlovna And R. Gordon Wasson
- Year Printed: 1957
- Special Attributes: 1st Edition
- Original/Facsimile: Original
- Publisher: Pantheon Books
- Illustrator: Daniel Jacomet
- Region: North America
- Place of Publication: Florence, Italy
- Topic: Mushrooms
- Language: English
- Binding: Hardcover in Slipcase
