Curious History of Magical Objects: A Collection of the Mystical, Mysterious, and Strange

For lovers of history and the occult alike, a spellbinding journey through the mystical artifacts of past and present.

Enter a cabinet of curiosities filled with enchanted oddities and forgotten magic. From the infamous hand of glory to the familiar lucky rabbit’s foot, folklorist Cory Thomas Hutcheson invites readers to explore a world of charms, relics, and ritual objects that once shaped everyday life across cultures and centuries.

Filled with fascinating stories, surprising history, and sly humor, The Curious History of Magical Objects is a page-turning illustrated guide to the magic hidden in objects both extraordinary and surprisingly common:

• Blast and Bane: The Hand of Glory, Blasting Rods, Witch Bridles, Bottles, and Bullets

• Wards in the Walls: Hex Signs, Heaven Letters, Bellarmines, Incantation Bowls, and Bees in a Bag

• Pocket Protectors: Birthing Girdles, Mercury Dime Amulets, Martyrdom Canes, the Caul, and Nation Sack

• The Animal Kingdom: Sea Gems, Walking Boys, Rat Letters, the Toad’s Bone, and Mermaid’s Purse

• A Glimpse Beyond the Veil: Dr. Dee’s Mirror, the Sieve and Shears, Dowsing Rods, Hag Stones, and Dragon Letter Bones

• Magic in My Backyard: Horseshoes, Skeleton Keys, Hamsa Hands, Poppets, Crystal Balls, and more

Throughout the book, Hutcheson brings the enchanted past to life, revealing how magic once occupied tangible space in the world—and how its traces survive in unexpected places. An irresistible read for armchair historians, folklore fans, occult enthusiasts, and anyone drawn to the mysterious and wonderfully strange.