TRACES OF THE ELDER FAITHS OF IRELAND : A FOLKLORE SKETCH : A HANDBOOK OF IRISH PRE-CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS (TWO VOLUMES)

New York: Longmans, Green & Co, 1902. Hardcover. Good Only. Octqvo, 9.1 in. x 6 in., Vol I: pp. xix, [1] (errata), 405, 1-32 (advertising); Vol II: pp. xv, [1] (errata), 438. Illustrated with frontispieces and 192 drawings and black and white photographs. Dark blue cloth boards with double bars stamped in blind at top and bottom and gilt menhir to center of front boards. Gilt title to spines. Rubbing to extremities. Darkening to spines, which are slightly shaken. Corners nudged. Spray of dark stains across front board of Volume I. Black endpapers. Opening 12 pages of Volume I partially detached; Volume I hinges weak, but holding. Bookseller's sticker to rear pastedown. "Martin, William Gregory Wood- (1847-1917), historian, archaeologist, folklorist, landowner, and soldier, was born 16 July 1847 in Woodville, Co. Sligo. As a young man he became interested in the archaeology and history of Co. Sligo, and from the late 1870s began publishing papers about particular sites in academic journals.... He was particularly good at describing the geographical context of complex groups of monuments such as those at Carrowmore, Co. Sligo, and acknowledged the accounts of earlier antiquaries... (as with) "Traces of the elder faiths of Ireland" (1902) (which) show his deep interest in anthropology. Though he provides some interesting ideas about pre-Christian religions (and the comprehensive bibliographies show that he was well versed in the latest theories), much is pure conjecture. His most valuable chapters are based on the continuity of fairy lore, tree worship, and rituals. Wood-Martin was one of the most important chroniclers of Sligo and his publications are still standard reference works.... But he was rather more than a local historian. He attempted, not always successfully, to place artefacts, monuments, and customs into a national or even international framework." (from Dictionary of Irish Biography).