This little book is something of a classic of its kind. It first came to my notice through Ash and Lake's Bizarre Books (1985, 1998), an admirable publication which I strongly recommend, though its authors take a fairly light-hearted approach to their material, eschewing any more profound analysis, such as you will find here.
Harry De Windt had previously written a number of works of travel and adventure, including Finland as it is, From Pekin to Calais by Land and Through Savage Europe. This, though, seems to be his only venture into the field of divination and he brings to it an unusual sensibility. Although this is a cheap little volume (original price 1/6), uniform with such dispensable items as Pearson's Dream Book and Hands and How to Read Them, De Windt strikes a scholarly pose, invoking the ancient physiognomists Richard Sanders (1613-1687?) and Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801) in support of the seriousness of his work.
Silly ideas are made no less silly because some gentlemen long deceased once wrote books about them. Be that as it may, the essential concept presented here is that:
... every mole upon the face of man or woman has upon some other portion of the body a corresponding birthmark, the position of which can generally be located with startling accuracy.
Sanders, whom De Windt quotes in a prefatory note, put the same idea more quaintly - if not convincingly:
Nature doth represent the merchant, who having stored his shoppe with all sorts of ware, finds it inconvenient to bring it all to the open window to be seen, (it being indeed impossible) but exposeth to the open view, some small quantity of everything by which may be judged what is within. Thus from the moles in the face, (as in a compendium or index to the whole volume of the body,) we find the other moles of the body, and derive a certain judgment therefrom.
(Weird punctuation uncorrected). So in fact it is not the moles on the face that have a meaning, it is those other moles somewhere else, usually covered by one's clothing and hence not available for inspection, that are significant. The facial ones simply tell the informed “moleosopher” where the meaningful ones are lurking, so they can be interpreted. If this were not enough, then any doubts as to the worth of De Windt's thesis are dispelled by the prognostications he gives for each possible position for a mole, using the numbering system presented on his “face chart”, as in this very typical example:
NO. XXI
Facial position: Bridge of nose
Presumptive sister-mark: Right thigh, just below the groin.MALE
Honey-coloured: “A man of singular good wit, happy in getting goods. It promiseth inheritance, the favour of superiors and the like.”
Black: Peril of a fatal but lingering malady connected with the stomach and liver, which will only be averted by great care in diet.FEMALE
A frail, delicate constitution. Some peril connected with childbirth. “Take notice in this type of one secret I glean from Baptista Portae's 'Natural Magick.' If she be corrupt, the grissel at the end of the nose is cut, as it were, or separated from the bone.” Let such an one wear light blue gems and take heed of the fourth day of the month of her birth.
Astral domination: Saturn and Mars.
You will notice that, as De Windt explains, “in women the colour of a mole has no significance, but in the opposite sex it must be closely studied in diagnosing the character and future” - which is rightly in keeping with the arbitrariness and irrationality of the work as a whole.
To avoid any suspicion of prejudice, though, let us put De Windt to the test. Until it was removed by surgery the singer Enrique Iglesias had a mole on his right cheek, near to his nose. What did it say about him? The mole was “honey-coloured” rather than black, and it appeared at position 54 in the face chart. Here's what De Windt says about such a case:
Denotes misfortune, but only at an advanced age. Youth and middle age shall be peaceful and prosperous. This sign is specially favourable to the knowledge of secret and occult things - a marvellous and intuitive reader of human character.
Its “presumptive sister-mark” is this time “under the left armpit”. I can't find a picture that shows that area of Signor Iglesias and anyway he might have had that mole removed, too. (Damn these modern advances, that make divinatory work so tricky!) Still, I think you'll agree that De Windt's assertion that Enrique is “prosperous” is accurate, even, one might say, “spot on”!
Finally. whether you believe in De Windt's method or not, I think we should all make a point in future - just in case - to inform every woman we meet who has a mole at the corner of her left eye, that, while we are aware that she is “incapable of fidelity”, she should still take care to “beware of the lightning”, as the book says. (Good advice is always welcomed, isn't it?)
Comments
how do i get this book, please ?
Thanks indeed.
Please refer urgently to my link http://www.gutclean.com/celebritymole.html for another example of the very gravest import to us all.
William Boyd
14 January 2009
The illustration is priceless.
Lotta Anchoviece
i have many mole in the body eg. i have two mole in frount of face near nose in left side and mole n rigt arm . mole n both sholder and plz give me full deatail about this mole
These moles mean you have a highly developed bump of gullibility occupying most of your cranium.
i have many mole in the body eg. i have two mole in frount of face near nose in left side and mole n rigt arm . mole n both sholder and plz give me full deatail about this mole
Where you mole if earlobe back or like earring? Either way, the shape must not be Jesus. That could be too bad for you if you can't see it through a mirror. Shave the back of thou head and look for more mole. Find Mary. Or better, the face of God.
i have two moles near the corner of my left eye
The book says you are prone to leaving pointless anonymous comments on postings and that you are consquently often mocked.
After seeing much in the way of puzzling comments, I think some people misunderstand the nature of this site. They actually think that you SUPPORT the contents of these books, and thus want more information from you. There should be a disclaimer somewhere on each page for all these stupid people.
Francois, I agree with your hypothesis but I shan't bother with a disclaimer because these idiots wouldn't read it. I don't mind them much anyway. I could delete their comments but instead I publish them, after all.
i have just got a new mole on my secondfinger top phlange , it was not there till a month back,and yeah nor is it a mark of some paint ore sopmething.pls comment.
Consult a doctor, don't ask random people on the internet for advice!
I have a mole on my back and on my hand between pointing and thumb finger or lower part of thumb hiding on the meddle?what does it mean?
It means you lack an essential quality called "clue".
I have a mole near my Right Brow on the lower side and pretty close to the center between the 2 eyes - what does that mean?
It means you are my long-lost nephew and I have a sum of $1,000,000 in the bank for you awaiting collection. Please send $200 as a release fee.
Wow. This is just wrong.
Its mentioned above that a mole on bridge of a nose and presumptive sister mark on right thigh ! I guess its location some what correct. I have mole on bridge of a nose and presumptive sister is on left thigh (a big honey color mole) instead of right thigh. I have no idea what its meaning.
I have a black mole on my right Palm.Does that mean anything???
What about a bruise on your third eye? Ouch!
I have four moles in differrent places on my neck; what does this mean??
Well I had a mole on my chin but people kept on making fun of me. So I went to the hospital and got it cut off. I have got 3 more I hate them, BUt I told everyone if they made fun of me again my fist would be in their mouth. That's why I don't bother with cutting them off!
I have a mole on my lower back. it is located direclt in the middle right above my buttocks. I have heard some myths about that being a sexual thing if a female has that. Any help please?
It doesn't mean a damn thing. Forget about it. Please get on with your life.
HAAHAAH really enjoying people's comments/questions and your replies
I have a mole in my Right hand, 3rd phlanage of ring finger. What does it indicates
can anyone answer me please?
It means you should avoid falling into open drains.
The excerpt from the book was good but your (Alfred Armstrong) replies to these comments are great.
Mole or no mole, i believe you can be whatever you want and get as lucky as want if you try hard enough!
i have mole on my left hand fingures , one on the middle fingure and other on the
ring fingure , both are on the lower part of the palm side
you can't say the wrong info and say so!
anyaway, pleaz what does a mole at the right side of the nose mean? it is not on the nose but next to it.
thankz
p.s if you can answer more wat does it mean to hav a mole on top/edge of the right side of nostril.
Moles mean you have been abducted by the same aliens who helped the Lost Tribes to build the Great Pyramid.
*rubs hands and cackles evilly*
i have mole on my left hand fingures , one on the middle fingure and other on the
ring fingure , both are on the lower part of the palm side
lol! Alfred, you really amused me with your sarcasm of replies. and im loving it :)
I have a mole and all my friends don't care
they stick-up for me and defend me in bad embarrasing times
they even end up suspended
I love them Peace
I have a mole on my Right hand middle finger. What does it indicates
can anyone answer me please?
hi, i am sally and i hope you can tell me whats the meang of my big mole where on the top of my right arm and thank you.
i hae a mole on my nose and one under my nose on the top of my lip on the right side and the mole on my nose is on the left side what dose this mean please tell me
wow. i had a mole on bridge of nose n right thai. is it a coincidence
not had. i mean i still have it! hehe
I have a mole on my team and 4 hours to stop the jujitakistani president from being kidnapped, plz tell what does mean
Friends will prove to be enemies and vice versa. Your life will involve pain, suffering and loss. The number 24 will be of great significance.
i have mole on middle of the chest and left side of stomake of 4" and right sholder back side and right side ribbes downside
Hahahahhahhaahahahahaah alfred iz so funny...ur a gud entertainer..d funny 1 woz u shud avoid fallin in2 open drains..i cnt stop laughin lolz...
can u plz tell me i hve a mole on ma chin wot does tht mean..i shud shut up nw?...lolzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I have a new mole in the middle of my lower lips. Do you know what it means?
a mole on my penis so any tell me what means of that
I ACTUALLY have a mole on the bridge of my nose and one on my upper right thigh, what a coincidence.
what about mole of witch, or witch-mark, it relates to magic
bizarrebooks site does not exist anymore.
i have mole in my left hand and on my left shoulder.what is the meaning of this?
A lot of fun, reading the questions. Odd Books, odd people asking about their moles!
I have two moles on both my hands on the same places, what does that mean?
Post new comment