Keiller Collection

Name

Keiller Collection

Description

A collection of over 400 volumes covering witchcraft, demonology and erotica, formed by the Scottish archaeologist Alexander Keiller (1889-1955). The books are British, continental and American publications, ranging from the 15th to the 20th century, though the emphasis is on works published during the 16th and the 17th century, when the persecution of people suspected of witchcraft was at its height. The earliest work in the collection is Ulrich Molitor's 'De lamiis et phitonicis mulieribus' (Reutlingen, 1489), which has a woodcut illustration of witches in flight. Other first editions include Jean Bodin, 'De la demonomanie des sorciers' (Paris, 1581), Joseph Glanvill, 'Saducismus triumphatus' (London, 1681), and one of the two London, 1603 editions of James VI and I's 'Daemonologie'.

Organisation

The books have been catalogued individually and have the shelfmark 'Klr.'. The incunable is part of the Library's Incunabula Collection.

Acquisition

The collection was presented to the Library by Alexander Keiller's widow, Gabrielle, in 1966.

References

'Demonology and Witchcraft Exhibition at the National Library of Scotland', Edinburgh Tatler, 9, no. 71 (March 1967).

Shelfmark

Klr.

Subjects

Incunables (in NLS collections)

Witchcraft

Occult