South Seas Magic by Rose, Ronald - 1959

Robert Hale, London, 1959. First Edition. Hardcover. Gary/No Dust Jacket. Illustrator: Photographic. Preface by author, glossary of Samoan words and index. The text is illustrated with black-and-white photographs taken by the author. Blue coloured boards with gilt coloured titles to the backstrip. The author was intrigued during his World War II experiences in New Guinea, of native "magic"; for as the preface says, page 11, " ... Natives I have met seem to have an uncanny knowledge of movements and activities of their own people some distance away even though there were no normal means of communication between them and they were often separated by dense jungle, vast mountain ranges or the sea." This piqued his interest ,and, after anthropology did not garner any answers, he and his wife fell into the dice throwing techniques of Professor J. B. Rhine to determine ESP. After testing the technique on Indigenous Australians, with interesting results, they sailed to Samoa where this book is based. The author and his wife not only tested the dice throwing techniques but they also looked at the Samoan society itself.  Softening and rubbing of the backstrip edges; bumping of the top book corners and rubbing of the lower book edges. Light tanning of the textblock edges and age toning of the pages. Rubs, marks and other blemishes to the end pages with the occasional mark to the pages. Fading to the backstrip with a black coloured mark 2 1/2 inches from the lower edge.  Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. [10], 11 - 192 pages,. Please refer to accompanying picture (s). Illustrator: Photographic. Quantity Available: 1. Category: Magic, Paranormal & Occult; Samoa; 1950s; Anthropology. Inventory No: 0129693. .