The Hasheesh Eater, Fitz Ludlow
Rare fourth edition of the first full-length American example of drug literature, in which Ludlow describes his altered states of consciousness and philosophical flights of fancy while he was using a cannabis extract. In the United States, the book created popular interest in hashish, leading to hashish candy and private hashish clubs. This edition was published the same year as the first.
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1857. Publisher's original decorated cloth boards, gilt-stamped titles to spine. Boards show some shelfwear with a couple spots of discoloration to back panel, slight fraying to extremities, and some chipping/loss near spine tips. Binding remains sturdy with the hinges perhaps just starting. Internally, a few instances of scattered foxing, crease to the bottom corner of the first few pages, else generally clean. A presentable copy, very scarce.