Witch's Guide to Gardening by Dorthy Jacob | 1964 | First Edition | Elek Books London

A Witch’s Guide to Gardening is a mid-20th-century study of traditional folklore, superstition, and plant lore, examining the role of gardens and plants within historical witchcraft, magic, and popular belief.

Written by Dorothy Jacob and first published in 1964, the book reflects a period of renewed scholarly and popular interest in folk magic and pre-modern belief systems. Rather than a modern “how-to” manual, this is a thoughtful and often wry exploration of how plants were believed to influence fate, health, protection, love, and misfortune.

The contents include chapters on:

• Lore and legend surrounding plants
• Talismans, curses, and protective herbs
• Folkloric beliefs linked to death, disaster, and fairies
• Traditionally “dangerous” or magical plants such as nightshade and mandrake

Illustrated throughout with black-and-white botanical drawings, the book combines literary charm with genuine folkloric research, making it appealing to collectors of occult literature, folklore, herbal history, and 1960s esoteric publishing.

Condition: Original cloth binding. Interior pages are clean and well-preserved, with clear text and illustrations. Some light, age-related wear to the cloth and extremities, consistent with a book of this age. Overall, a solid and attractive vintage copy (please see photographs).