Dictionnaire Infernal, ou Bibliothèque Universelle, sur les êtres, les personnages, les livres, les faits et les choses...

4 vols., 2nd edition, 16 engraved and lithograph plates, half-title repaired to vol 1., light spotting, a few water stains, contemporary tree calf, spines gilt, red morocco labels to spines, 8vo, Paris: Librairie Universelle de P. Mongie, 1825-26

Dictionnaire Infernal is one of the classic works on demonology, describing demons and organising them into hierarchies. First published in 1818 in just two volumes, the work attempts to provide an account of all the knowledge concerning superstitions. The dictionary prophesies demons and gives short summaries of notable cases and trials of witchcraft and sorcery, as well as of ghosts and odd paranormal events. This edition is greatly expanded from the first. Dictionnaire Infernal  is best known for the 1863 edition with illustrations by Louis le Breton. 

Although this is Jacques Collin de Plancy’s most famous work, the French demonologist and writer had a prolific writing career, writing over eighty works on divination, magic, alchemy, sorcery and witchcraft. 

[Caillet I, 2459]