A Midnight Visit to Holyrood
Glasgow: Hay Nisbet, Printer, [1879]. First edition, printed for private circulation. 19x13cm, [5], 68pp. Vignette illustrations, addendum at rear. Signed and inscribed by Sinclair on the to the Newcastle Spiritualist Evidence Society and dated in 1879 on the title page. Original blue cloth boards, ruled in blind and decorated in gilt. Newcastle Spiritual Evidence Society labels to front pastedown and rear board. Corners bumped, edges rubbed, boards lightly soiled, else clean and very good.
Marie Sinclair, Countess of Caithness (1830-1895) was already a fairly well known occultist and paranormal investigator when she scheduled a visit to the Palace of Holyrood in Edinburgh, site of the infamous and brutal murder of David Rizzio as witnessed by Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. Sinclair had claimed to have begun communications with the long dead queen, always at midnight, in the years leading up to her visit. This meeting, which is described in the book in vivid and poetic detail, was prearranged between the Queen and the Countess, Sinclair describing the invitation from Stuart:
"I will meet you at this hour, midnight, in the chapel of Holyrood. I will stand once more beside the altar before which I once knelt, decked in all the bravery of a bride, so light of heart, so full of love for the young bridegroom."
A second, expanded edition appeared several years later, both of which are scarce, and rarely turn up signed. This lovely association copy provides a tangible link to the spiritualist movement of the time with the Newcastle-on-Tyne Society.
Price: $2,500.00