Books on Monsters II: Bibliography

An essential volume for the library of any collector of such works is Dr. Ernest Martin's 'Histoire des Monstres." First published in 1879, it serves as one of the first and most extensive bibliographies of books about monsters and bizarre creatures. Though the first edition is quite scarce and expensive, there are reprints to be had.

Books on Monsters I

Perhaps the seminal work in the category of books on Monsters is Claude Prier's, "

Dialogue de la lycanthropie ou transformation d’hommes en loups, vulgairement dits loups-garous, et si telle se peut faire : Auquel en discourant est traicté de la maniere de se contregarder des enchantemens et sorcelleries, ensemble de plusieurs abus et superstitions, lesquelles se commettent en ce temps. Published in Louvain in 1596, it is a fascinating read about the dangers of werewolves and contains brilliant and disturbing plates.

'Civilization mates but ill with Romance, and for the passing of Superstition (the child of Imagination and Romance) none can shed a tear. Yet at least it served to raise our daily lives out of the rut of commonplace. Our pulses are no longer stirred at the mere mention of the word MAGIC, and even BLACK MAGIC is coldly discussed where not so very long ago none would have dared speak it save with 'bated breath.' Yet we are all mystics by birth, and scarce one of us there is who as a child has not experienced the fear of darkness. We cannot explain it, and though the child may soon be taught to laugh at his fear, yet none the less was he endowed with this unaccountable dread of the UNKNOWN.
Among real book-collectors probably this particular branch of specialism attracts but few; for the greater part of those who collect such works are students of the occult (whether serious or idle).
- P.B.M. Allan, The Book-Hunter at Home