The Book of Talismans, Amulets, and Zodiacal Gems by William Thomas and Kate Pavitt

Description

The Book of Talismans, Amulets, and Zodiacal Gems is a book by William Thomas Pavitt and Kate Pavitt, first published in 1914. The work collects historical lore, practical knowledge and illustrated plates on talismans, amulets and the magical properties of gems associated with zodiacal influences, offering an early 20th-century survey of gem lore, talismanic symbolism, and folk magic. Opening with a broad cultural history of charms and protective devices, the book moves into detailed sections on the forms, materials and symbolic language of talismans and amulets — from antiquity to Victorian and Edwardian practices — and explains how zodiacal correspondences and gemstone lore were used to craft objects believed to affect luck, health and fate. The richly illustrated plates and period examples make it useful both as a practical guide for makers of talismanic jewellery and as a reference for students of occult material culture. The authors combine practical craft knowledge with esoteric perspective: the text blends hands-on design and gem-working detail with the symbolic vocabularies of the time. For readers and collectors the book sits between a catalogue of magical correspondences and an illustrated manual — ideal for anyone searching for vintage sources on talismans, amulets, zodiacal gems, gemstone meanings and talismanic jewellery.