Category: Occult & Magic

CROW

CROW, W. B.. A History of Magic, Witchcraft and Occultism

London, The Antiquarian Press, 1968.

8vo, pp. 316. Paper over boards, gilt title to spine. Original dust jacket. A fine copy.

TROWBRIDGE, W. R. H.

TROWBRIDGE, W. R. H.. Cagliostro. The splendour and Misery of a Master of Magic

London, Chapman and Hall, 1910.

£65

8vo, pp. xv, 311 (1), with half title, title in red and black, engraved frontispiece portrait and tissue paper guard, and numerous illustrations. Deckled edges. Publishers’ coated cloth gilt, a little worn to caps of spine and cover corners. Tender hinges, as well as text block. A good copy. 

CIRLOT, J. E.

CIRLOT, J. E.. A Dictionary of Symbols

London, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1962.

£60

8vo, pp. liv, 400, with 16 plates and numerous illustrations. Translated from the Spanish by Jack Sage, foreword by Herbert Read. Red morocco gilt bookplate of F. B. Lorch, acquired on “21 May 1962”, as stamped above the bookplate on the front pastedown. Black buckram, gilt title to spine. A fine copy.

THOMAS & PAVITT

THOMAS, William & Kate PAVITT. The Book of Talismans, Amulets and Zodiacal Gems

London, William Rider & Son, 1914.

£75

8vo, pp. xix, 292., with coloured frontispiece and tissue paper guard, and ten plates. From the library of Dr. F. B. Lorch, acquired on “29 Dec 1950”, as stamped on the front pastedown. Publisher’s coated cloth gilt. Binding slightly worn. A very good copy.

IAMBLICHUS

IAMBLICHUS (GALE, Thomas, Tr.). De Mysteriis Liber

Oxford, E Theatro Sheldoniano, 1678.

£850

Folio. pp. (40), 316, (8). Title page with engraved vignette, double-column text (Latin and Greek). Title slightly soiled, very light age yellowing throughout. Generally clean and fresh. Marbled pastedowns and fore-edge. Bookplates of Richard Fort, Read Hall, and of C. E. De M. K. (initials). Contemporary full calf gilt, decorated turn-ins, spine richly decorated with floral motif and divided in 6 compartments. Red morocco label. Some slight wear on covers and corners.

ESTC R13749.

WEBSTER, John

WEBSTER, John. The Displaying of supposed Witchcraft Wherein is affirmed that there are many sorts of Deceivers and Impostors . . . But that there is a corporeal league made betwixt the Devil and the Witch . . .

London, Jonas More, 1677.

£4250

FIRST EDITION. Quarto, pp. (16) 346 (4). Roman letter with italic. Slight tear to corner of Bb1 with no text loss, hole Cc4 with minor text loss, still a good clean copy, bound in brown calf, red gilt title piece, slightly worn. Ex libris Spottiswoode, 1900.

Dedicating the work to neighbours in Yorkshire as a placatory text to halt spurious rumours and misunderstanding concerning devilish matters, Webster provides an overview of censure concerning the treatment of apparitions and witchcraft and describes witches and their deeds. He adopts a rational approach and insists that all evidence in support of sorcery should be subjected to the same scientific scrutiny as employed by the likes of Newton and Locke. After all, what need was there to suspect the handiwork of the devil in any miracle, when ‘Mr Boyle’ . . . was able . . . ‘to manifest the great and wonderful virtues that God had endowed stones, minerals, plants and roots withal’.

Wing W 1230.

SYMONDS, John

SYMONDS, John. The Great Beast. The Life and Magick of Aleister Crowley

 London, Macdonald, 1971.

£500

FRIST EDITION. 8vo, pp. 413. Bound in paper over boards with gilt title to spine. Original dust jacket in very good condition. Inscribed by the author on front endpaper: “photos of AC, pre 1914, by Arnold Gerte”. Annotated and underlined throughout by Symonds. Verso of rear free endpaper and part of pastedown full annotated in reference to p. 153. A very good copy.

SYMONDS, John

SYMONDS, John. The Great Beast. The Life and Magick of Aleister Crowley

 London, Macdonald, 1971.

£500

FRIST EDITION. 8vo, pp. 413. Bound in paper over boards with gilt title to spine. Original dust jacket in very good condition. Inscribed by the author on front free endpaper: “To Michael / from your old friend John / with affectionate regards / 20th September 1971”. A fine copy.

CROWLEY, Aleister

CROWLEY, Aleister (SYMONDS, John and Kenneth GRANT, Eds). The Complete Astrological Writings

London, Duckworth, 1974.

£150

FIRST EDITION. 8vo, pp. 224. Frontispiece plate and a few illustrations and tables throughout. Bound in dark blue buckram over boards, gilt title to spine, purple pastedowns and original dust jacket in very good condition. Autograph of Kenneth Grant (?) on the blank recto of the frontispiece plate. An excellent copy.