THIS is someone you guys should know. He's a bona-fide genius. He runs a whole raft of blogs and websites and is the author or co-author of more than 60 books (including WHOLE DICTIONARIES). That's six zero. And he doesn't even look 40. Amazing fellow.

Anyway, he's a big Haunted Mansion fan, and he leaves nice comments at el bloggo now and then. He's a voracious reader, going through old journals and magazines and other obscure stuff. Probably reads and writes more before breakfast than you or I do in an academic semester. Today I got an email from him explaining that he's found a couple of precursors to the HM, one in a 1902 Cosmopolitan mag and the other in an 1891 The Strand mag.

He's already published the 1902 Cosmo pic HERE, so it's available to see. It illustrates ghosts coming out of a pipe organ as it is played. (Note that there are two organists in the pic, so don't be confused. Look at the lower left. The artwork is not especially clear.)

The second one I have seen but can't share yet, as it's pre-blogged and won't be published until the end of March, but it's even better, showing ghosts sitting alongside someone seated on a bench (or in a vehicle?). It's very much like the (original) HHG mirror gag. In fact, IMO, this drawing could be an actual source of inspiration. You'll see it at the end of March.