Arthur Machen, Fantastic Tales or The Way to Attain; a translation of the French Renaissance author Beroalde de Verville’s (1556-1626) collection of stories and tales exploring the weird, the philosophical and the humorous. First time in English. Carbonnek: Privately Printed, 1923. First edition and first printing, signed by Machen. One of 1050 such copies, this being number 663. Octavo, 448 pages. Publisher’s blue paper boards, half bound in leather with gilt details to spine. Fore and bottom edges untrimmed. Heavy gauge blue end papers.

Best known for his horror and occult works including “The Great God Pan” and “The Bowmen”, Machen also wrote a great deal of fiction and translated works such as this one. Of this work he says in his introduction, “…the oddest, the queerest book in the world.” This is of course notable coming from Machen.

A good copy with scuffs and wear to edges. Bearing the bookplate of Cleveland politician Henry W. Speeth.

#arthurmachen #rarebooks #bibliophile #bookcollecting #bookcollector #yorksc #occult #occultbooks #thegreatgodpan #stephenking #thewaytoattain #vintagebooks #signedbooks #horror #horrorbooks #scarybooks #weirdbooks #oddbooks