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Magic plants

Naturlig Magic

Egyptian magic

Magic and healing

Viola tricolor L. Violaceae 'Black Magic'. Heartsease. Distribution: Europe. Gerard (1633) writes that it is good for fevers especially for children and infants whose convulsions and fits of the falling sickness it is thought to cure' These are presumably the febrile convulsions of childhood which stop when the fever subsides, whatever one does. He also says it is good for chest conditions, itching all over, and ulcers and 'to cure the pains of the French disease [syphilis]'. It is approved for topical use in mild seborrhoeic dermatitis because of traditional use, in Europe, but a trial of a cream containing V.tricolor was no more effective than the base cream without ingredients. A child with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency developed haemolysis ('favism') following oral administration. It also contains salicylates so should be used with caution (European Medicines Agency, Assessment report on Viola tricolor, November 2010). Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.

Viola tricolor 'Black Magic'

Malayan black magic (Ilmu Sihir) charm intended to curse its recipient with a fatal illness. The Arabic letters surrounding the human figure are incantations and spells written in the language of Djinns and Syaitan (demonic spirits)

Malayan black magic charm

Malayan black magic (Ilmu Sihir) charm intended to curse its recipient with a fatal illness. The Arabic letters surrounding the human figure are incantations and spells written in the language of Djinns and Syaitan

The history of magic

A treatise of magic incantations

Oral magic, folklore and tradition

Rite of war-magic, Kanukubusim the last war wizard of Kiriwina.

Rite of war-magic, Western Pacific

Four sages and magic circles. Gouache.

Semitic magic, its origins and development

xvii, 320 pages : frontispiece, illustrations, plates ; 23 cm

The mysteries and secrets of magic

Chaldean magic : its origin and development

xxiv, 406 pages, 2 unnumbered leaves of plates : illustrations ; 23 cm

Transcendental magic : its doctrine and ritual

Magic, pretended miracles, and remarkable natural phenomena.

Magic in names and in other things

Australian medicine man with magic healing crystal.

2 volumes (xxxii, 426 pages, 1 unnumbered leaf, 1 unnumbered leaf : frontispiece, illustrations ; xi, 417 ; 23 cm.

The magic art and the evolution of kings

Witchcraft and magic: a man conducting magic rites, devils and a ghost appearing, and a hunter cowering in terror. Coloured engraving.

An episode in the opera Der Freischütz, act 2, scene 6, by Carl Maria von Weber: Kaspar and Max in the Wolf's glen. The character Kaspar forges magical bullets with the aid of the evil spirit Samiel. In the background, huntsmen with horses and hounds fly through the night sky Left, Kaspar inside a protective circle of flaming stones, tends to a fire in a brazier. A human skull is on the ground beside him. Outside the circle, hostile animals (a snake, a boar, an owl, a bat). Right, the ghost of Samiel materializes in the flame-coloured opening to a cave

1 print : etching, with gouache ; image 14.8 x 21.8 cm

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Magic plants

Naturlig Magic

Egyptian magic

Magic and healing

Viola tricolor 'Black Magic'

Malayan black magic charm

Malayan black magic charm

Malayan black magic charm

The history of magic

A treatise of magic incantations

Oral magic, folklore and tradition

Rite of war-magic, Western Pacific

Four sages and magic circles. Gouache.

Semitic magic, its origins and development

The mysteries and secrets of magic

Chaldean magic : its origin and development

The mysteries and secrets of magic

Transcendental magic : its doctrine and ritual

Magic, pretended miracles, and remarkable natural phenomena.

Magic in names and in other things

Australian medicine man with magic healing crystal.

The magic art and the evolution of kings

Witchcraft and magic: a man conducting magic rites, devils and a ghost appearing, and a hunter cowering in terror. Coloured engraving.

Witchcraft and magic: a man conducting magic rites, devils and a ghost appearing, and a hunter cowering in terror. Coloured etching.

Letters on natural magic, addressed to Sir W. Scott

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Filter by

Magic plants

Naturlig Magic

Egyptian magic

Magic and healing

Viola tricolor 'Black Magic'

Malayan black magic charm

Malayan black magic charm

Malayan black magic charm

The history of magic

A treatise of magic incantations

Oral magic, folklore and tradition

Rite of war-magic, Western Pacific

Four sages and magic circles. Gouache.

Semitic magic, its origins and development

The mysteries and secrets of magic

Chaldean magic : its origin and development

The mysteries and secrets of magic

Transcendental magic : its doctrine and ritual

Magic, pretended miracles, and remarkable natural phenomena.

Magic in names and in other things

Australian medicine man with magic healing crystal.

The magic art and the evolution of kings

Witchcraft and magic: a man conducting magic rites, devils and a ghost appearing, and a hunter cowering in terror. Coloured engraving.

Witchcraft and magic: a man conducting magic rites, devils and a ghost appearing, and a hunter cowering in terror. Coloured etching.

Letters on natural magic, addressed to Sir W. Scott

Be the first to know

Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

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Wellcome collection