#moon lore
“Moon Lore”
Rev Timothy Harley
Black Letter Press have been making a name for themselves by releasing exquisite editions of older out of print books so that one might add a wonderfully bound modern volume to one’s library at a reasonable rate.
In this series they have released a fantastic collection of tales surrounding the mythology of the moon. Originally released in 1885 the book “Moon-Lore” by a “Rev. Timothy Harley F.R.A.S.” is a fascinating collection of the folk tales, myths, and legends that surround the moon.
“Rev Timothy Harley” was, as indicated by his F.R.A.S. suffix, a member of the Royal Astronomical Society in London. Records do indicate a Timothy Harley born in 1845, in St. Giles in Fields, London, but no record of his education exists and no biographical information is to be found.
The tone of the volume, written at the height of Victorian London, is a tongue-in-cheek presentation of “facts and fictions” about the moon. Given it’s rather specific content and the tone of it’s delivery I suspect the “Timothy Harley” was in fact another author using a pseudonym and that the volume is as much a personal piss-take to some Victorian astronomer as it is a wonderful collection of folklore.
Never the less it is a rather entertaining collection of stories and tales for those curious to know about the moon and it’s place in literature and myth. A Victorian parlour mood hangs over the work, giving the reader plenty of conversation pieces at the next salon they attend.
The book is divided into four sections, the first dealing with legends of the “Man in the Moon” phenomena in various cultures. The second section addresses more of the role of the moon in worship and deification. The third portion of the book is dedicated to superstitions held about the moon and moon lunacy, and the final portion of the book is about the concept of moon inhabitation.
The Black Letter Press edition of Moon Lore is, in the main, a faithful reproduction of the original edition, with minor changes to flourishes and spacing. Comparing it to my first edition copy it appears to have been re typeset to reflect the original design throughout the book, with the exception of the cover of the binding.
The binding is hardbound with dark blue covers and black endpapers with a lovely “wood free” paper stock, as well as a golden ribbon and headbands. It has the extensive index of the original and makes two footnote numbering corrections.
The cover is entirely different than the floral pattern of the first, while the blue and gold motif remain the same the Black Letter Press edition has been redesigned by Sarah B Bolen in a style more art deco than Victorian. It adds to the beauty of the volume and makes it a handsome edition for one’s bookshelf.
Get yourself a copy from Black Letter Press:
