THE SPIRITUAL AGE. Devoted to Rational Spiritualism and Practical Reform. Edited by Alonzo E. Newton and S. B. Brittan.

Boston, New York and Chicago: W.H. Chaney & Co., 1858-1859.

SIXTY-EIGHT (68) ISSUES of this weekly spiritualist newspaper (plus one duplicate bound in at the rear). Folio size newspapers, each a single fold sheet making four pages, 18x24 inches.

The 68 issues are: Vol. I No. 2, January 16, 1858 - Vol. I, No. 51, December 18, 1858, and Vol. II No. 1, January 1, 1859 - Vol. II No. 33, August 13, 1859. There is also a duplicate of Vol. 1 No. 35 bound in at the rear. (Lacking the following numbers - Volume I: 1, 36, 39, 40, 41, 42, 52; Volume II: 5, 9, 12, 13, 17, 19, 25, 28, 30, 32.)

An amazing run of 68 issues from the first two years of this scarce mid-18th century spiritualist newspaper.

Condition: The issues are lacking covers, bound together by the remnants of the original leather spine (which is disintegrating and losing pieces easily). The issues are now held in a stiff plain card folder with a blue cloth spine covering with a handwritten title: "Boston / The Spiritual Age / Jan-Aug 1858-1859". Both the front and rear blank endpapers are of a different, and much cheaper, paper than the issues (probably added later when the issues were bound together), it is tender paper that has chipped a lot and will continue to chip easily; the front blank endpaper is loose. The issues themselves: All the issues are lightly toned. The first leaf of the first issue, Vol. I No. 2, is neatly split across its center fold, essentially making it two parts (top and bottom), the bottom part of which has almost completely pulled from the binding; the second leaf of the same issue has an eight inch closed tear; both leaves have edge chips and small closed edge tears. The duplicate issue of Vol. I No. 35 is bound in at the rear and has tape repairs and chips (again, it is a duplicate and not counted among the 68 issues). Else the issues are in overall remarkably good condition, with some edgewear, a bit of foxing, shorelining, a few larger stains (text always legible beneath), etc., to some issues here and there. This run of issues from the first two years of The Spiritual Age is well deserving of professional conservation, imho.

A look at the United States in the 1850s through the eyes of the spiritualists who were there (perhaps you were there too, in a previous life!)

About THE SPIRITUAL AGE newspaper (from various Internet sources):

******The Spiritual Age was a weekly American newspaper dedicated to Rational Spiritualism and practical reform, published between January 1858 and February 1860. It served as a central mouthpiece for 19th-century Spiritualist philosophy and contained accounts of séances, medium advertisements, and messages from spirits. It also provided news regarding the progressive social movements of the era. The publication was well-regarded among 19th-century Spiritualists for presenting a rational, morally serious worldview of spiritualism, and for its reformist perspectives on abolition and women's rights.******

About RATIONAL SPIRITUALISM (from Wikipedia and other Internet sources):

******Rational Spiritualism refers to the movement that attempted to strip mysticism and dogma away from spiritualism, seeking instead to validate the existence of the soul and the afterlife using scientific and logical methodology. In the mid-1800s, traditional Spiritualism (contacting the dead) was incredibly popular, but plagued by fraudulent mediums. In response, several publications and societies - such as the 1858 Boston/Chicago periodical The Spiritual Age - championed Rational Spiritualism. The aim was to prove spiritual survival scientifically, relying on verifiable mediumship rather than blind faith. In addition, Rational Spiritualists were typically strong advocates of progressive causes, including abolition, women's rights, and ethical living.******