The Black Toad
Authored by: Gemma Gary
Published by: Troy Books
Gemma Gary’s ‘The Black Toad’ explores potent examples of the folk-ceremonial magical practices and witchcraft of the south-west of England; dealing especially with Devon and the author’s homeland of Cornwall. Within the West Country, the popular belief in witchcraft and its attendant charms, magical practices and traditions continued to be observed and survived long after such ways had faded in most other parts of the British Isles.
Described within The Black Toad is a collection of some of the fascinating magical practices and lore of the West Country’s cunning folk and early modern witches; ways that have survived and evolved within the rarefied Craft of the area’s modern day witchcraft practitioners of the old persuasion. As this book affirms, these ways of the Old Craft and Cunning Arte include a belief in and working relationship with the spirit forces of the land, the Faerie, animal and plant lore, as well as the magical use of Psalms to cure or curse, the invocation of Christ and the power of the Holy Trinity.
“For all those who are interested in learning about the Old Path as it is taught and practised today by West Country witches this book of practical magic and sorcery will be a revelation. As the late Cecil Williamson, founder of the witchcraft museum in Boscastle, North Cornwall and a modern cunning man himself, said and Gemma Gary’s excellent book proves - It still goes on today.”-Michael Howard.
Bibliography
All Editions
Physical Description
Dimensions: (Paperback) 187 x 114mm, (Hardback) 234mm x 156mm
Page Count: 142 pages, plus 12 pages of photographic plates, line drawings, and figures.
Illustrative content: Illustrations throughout
Contributors
Illustrated by: Gemma Gary
Forward by: Michael Howard
Photography: Jane Cox
Paperback Edition
Publication date/copyright date: 2012
ISBN: 978-0956104-37-3
Original price: £11.99
Binding
Binding: Softcover with gloss laminate cover.
Paper: White 80gsm paper stock
Standard Hardback Edition
Publication date/copyright date: 2012
ISBN: 978-0956104-38-0
Original price: £18.99
Binding
Binding: Hardcover black case binding with gold foil blocking to the front and spine, ‘Old Gold’ warm yellow endpapers, and black and yellow head and tail bands.
Dust Jacketed Hardback Edition
Publication date/copyright date: 2024
Original price: £24.00
Binding
Binding: Hardbound with full color dust jacket.
Special Edition
Number of Copies Printed: 200 copies.
Binding
Binding: Hardcover bound using recycled leather fibers emulating the look and feel of golden tan Morocco leather, and foil blocked in black with black end papers and black and yellow head and tail bands.
Paper: Cream 80gsm paper stock with sewn binding
Fine Limited Edition
Publication date/copyright date: 2012
Number of Copies Printed: 83 copies.
Binding
Binding: Hardcover bound black cloth, leather and toad skin sewn half binding, with goat leather to the spine; gold blocked to the side with a double toad device, and with black toad skin to the corners, gilded edges and a burgundy ribbon marker.
Content Note
Accompanying material: Slipcase|
Other: Optional lined slipcase in full black cloth embossed on one side with Toad device.
Black Edition
Publication date/copyright date: 2017
Original price: £31.00
Number of Copies Printed: 200 hand numbered copies.
Binding
Binding: Hardcover bound in beautifully grained black recycled leather fibers, with black foil blocking to the front and spine, black end papers, with red head and tail bands.
Paper: White 80gsm paper stock
