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TBCL The Book
Collector's Library - Crowley - Spring - 2011
C R O W L E Y
TBCL The Book
Collector's Library - Crowley - Autumn 2008
1 - 8
8 8 - 8 6 3 - B O O K
Email: tbcl@securenet.net
Original
Printing Plates For The ACE OF DISKS & THE SUN
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Crowley, Aleister & Frieda Harris - related material].
An original engraved printing plate, used to reproduce the colour plate of the Tarot card 'Ace of Disks' in the First edition of The Book of Thoth (1944) and the prototype samples of the Thoth Tarot cards
(1943). London: OTO/Chiswick Press Ltd. [1944], 1943. The plate is metal (probably copper?) 3 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches, and is mounted on a second brass or copper sheet that is about 1/8 of an inch larger on each
edge. The method used for the printing was the collotype process, which in this instance required four different printer's blocks for each illustration. These were run through the presses in sequence with different colored inks, the end result being the very high quality color reproductions that were required. The blocks within any given set varied quite dramatically in appearance. One or two would usually have sections of the background of the design cut away or deeply engraved so that there was no chance of the ink adhering to those parts of the design where it was not wanted. This gave the plates themselves a high relief, almost sculpted look. Others of the plates were lightly but very finely etched on the surface, giving them enormous detail, although it usually requires reasonably close examination of the plate to see it. In 1943 Crowley had eight sets of these printing blocks made: seven sets were for the designs for the tarot cards 'Ace of Disks', 'The Lovers,' 'The Ace of Swords,' 'The Sun,' 'The Hierophant,' 'Lust', and 'The Universe,' with the eighth set for the Rose-Cross design that would appear on the reverse side of each card. The plates were primarily struck so that color prints of the designs could be made to tip into his forthcoming 'The Book of Thoth', however he also took advantage of their availability to have a small test run of those particular tarot cards made. These he distributed to friends and acquaintances that might be persuaded to help finance the full printing of the pack. The plate is from the collection of Edward Noel Fitzgerald, (1908-1958), also known as Frater Agape, a IX degree member of the O.T.O. He had been a friend and follower of Crowley's, and remained friends with Harris after The Beast's death. The two met via Crowley, and were part of the small circle in Britain in the 1950s who continued to take an interest in his work. Harris supplied FitzGerald with a small collection of material relating to the preparation and exhibition of the Thoth tarot designs, and the publication of The Book of Thoth. Although not designed as such, the plates themselves are quite decorative. They could perhaps be mounted on a box holding tarot cards, a bookend, or simply for display in a frame. However they are displayed, there is no doubt that each plate is a unique memento of the first ever printing of one of the most significant Tarot decks ever produced, and of course of 'The Book of Thoth'.This particular engraving is moderately finely done, and presents a reverse (mirror) image of the 'Ace of Disks.' Four finger nail size rubbed patches, probably deliberately done by the printers so the ink would not adhere to those parts of the design, otherwise overall VG condition. A one-of-a-kind Crowley item.
$2750
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Crowley, Aleister & Frieda Harris - related material].
An original engraved printing plate, used to reproduce the colour plate of the Tarot card
'The Sun' in the First edition of The Book of Thoth (1944) and the prototype samples of the Thoth Tarot cards
(1943). London: OTO/Chiswick Press Ltd. [1944], 1943. The plate is metal (probably copper?) 3 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches, and is mounted on a second brass or copper sheet that is about 1/8 of an inch larger on each
edge. The method used for the printing was the collotype process, which in this instance required four different printer's blocks for each illustration. These were run through the presses in sequence with different colored inks, the end result being the very high quality color reproductions that were required. The blocks within any given set varied quite dramatically in appearance. One or two would usually have sections of the background of the design cut away or deeply engraved so that there was no chance of the ink adhering to those parts of the design where it was not wanted. This gave the plates themselves a high relief, almost sculpted look. Others of the plates were lightly but very finely etched on the surface, giving them enormous detail, although it usually requires reasonably close examination of the plate to see it. In 1943 Crowley had eight sets of these printing blocks made: seven sets were for the designs for the tarot cards 'Ace of Disks', 'The Lovers,' 'The Ace of Swords,' 'The Sun,' 'The Hierophant,' 'Lust', and 'The Universe,' with the eighth set for the Rose-Cross design that would appear on the reverse side of each card. The plates were primarily struck so that color prints of the designs could be made to tip into his forthcoming 'The Book of Thoth', however he also took advantage of their availability to have a small test run of those particular tarot cards made. These he distributed to friends and acquaintances that might be persuaded to help finance the full printing of the pack. The plate is from the collection of Edward Noel Fitzgerald, (1908-1958), also known as Frater Agape, a IX degree member of the O.T.O. He had been a friend and follower of Crowley's, and remained friends with Harris after The Beast's death. The two met via Crowley, and were part of the small circle in Britain in the 1950s who continued to take an interest in his work. Harris supplied FitzGerald with a small collection of material relating to the preparation and exhibition of the Thoth tarot designs, and the publication of The Book of Thoth. Although not designed as such, the plates themselves are quite decorative. They could perhaps be mounted on a box holding tarot cards, a bookend, or simply for display in a frame. However they are displayed, there is no doubt that each plate is a unique memento of the first ever printing of one of the most significant Tarot decks ever produced, and of course of 'The Book of Thoth'.This particular engraving is moderately finely done, and presents a reverse (mirror) image of the 'The Sun.' It does not have the great detail of the others in the set, which is particularly evident in the center or the design which is indistinct and cloudy. Overall VG condition for this one-of-a-kind Crowley item.
$2750
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FORTH BEAST
Inscribed Presentation Copy With Notes & Letters
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[Crowley, Aleister] Marlow, Louis. [Louis Wilkinson].
FORTH, BEAST! Signed. London: Faber & Faber Ltd, , 1946. Crowley's Personal Copy. Sm. 8vo., 200pp. A very good copy showing light use. First Edition. Pale blue boards, gilt titled at the spine [mildly faded, the gilt still bright]. Louis Marlow, [Crowley's Literary Executor] satirist, whose criticism of life cuts deep. "This is a book with ingredients both sweet and astringent, written by a man who has thought deeply, acted independently, reflected sagely, and is able to set down in bold, lucid, vivid paragraphs a life-time of rich and impassioned experience." & according to the author, the essays in this book have something to offend everyone. Presentation copy with a lengthy inscription by the author on the half title:
"For / Aleister Crowley - With apologies for / the very imperfect / sketch of him / herein attempted. / From / Louis Marlow / And now in April 1946. Deirdre MacAlpine / April
1948". Also - Boldly signed by Crowley on the front pastedown with his phallic signature form, adding four lines of original poetry -
"On Louis the immortals / sardonically look / he sought fame as a poet / and found it as a
cook!". Penciled notes on the ffe: " Lidoll [sic] Hart / The Revolution in Warfare", & on the verso of the half title:
"I want to ask Joad what's his answer to the very serious attack on his integrity on page 98 of this
book" Some AC marginalia - one or two author's holographic corrections. With: a very good 2 page als on Crowley's personal stationery with his red 666 seal at the top. Dated September 25,
Netherwood, The Ridge, Hastings. "Dear Louis / Peccavi / Mea Maxima Culpa / I ought to be kicked 77 times around circular Route No 2. Ungrateful swine that I am; a hog, a viper. Well, you know, I'm not really though it looks like it". Good content follows - signed:
"Thine in sackcloth & ashes / Aleister" $11000
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Evangeline Adams & Aleister
Crowley
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Adams, Evangeline [Aleister Crowley]. ASTROLOGY: YOUR PLACE IN THE
STARS. First Edition in dustwrapper. Inscribed by Adams on the front free endpaper:
"Subscribed to Mr. George H. Gregory / with best of wishes of / Evangeline Adams / May
1930". Published under the Adams's name, the book was written by Aleister Crowley.
This title was her [their] most ambitious; a primer to the planets' influence in the various signs & contributed much to her success as the most famous astrologer of her day, responsible for broadening the appeal of astrology in America. "Adams came from the same illustrious family as two American presidents, John Adams & John Quincy Adams; however, she dismayed her conservative New England relations by, 'dabbling in
heathenism'." A rare presentation copy.
$1150
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HOLOGRAPH ENVELOPE BEARING RARE WAX SEAL OF ALEISTER
CROWLEY
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Crowley,
Aleister. HOLOGRAPH ENVELOPE BEARING RARE WAX SEAL OF ALEISTER
CROWLEY. Aylesbury, 11 AM 28 JLY Bucks. Poet, Philosopher, Mystic, Magician, Aleister Crowley Envelope, Signed 666.
Aylesbury, 11 AM 28 JLY 1944 Bucks - with his very rare, personal Egyptian cartouche wax seal bearing the symbols of a papyrus stalk, water, a serpent, & ankh,
[Recto]In Hi s Hand]: "Rt. Rev Dr. W.B. Crow c/o Geo. H. Brook Esq. Commons Lodge, Lepton in Huddersfield W.
Yorks" "P.S. I should also be glad of a list - as long as possible - of all the "fabulous" beings from leprechauns & kelpies to nymphs & reads. Just the names.
666". The Egyptian cartouche wax seal (measures 1" x 1
1/4") & is dark red brick in colour. Very Rare. The envelope is creatively mounted over a strong black & white image of AC; archivally double matted, double glazed for viewing bot h sides with gold filet in an elegant wood frame.$8800
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Signed Presentation Copy inscribed to his great friend, Edward
Thornton
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KONX OM
PAX
Essays in
Light
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Crowley, Aleister. Crowley, Aleister.
KONX OM PAX. Essays in Light. London: Walter Scott Publishing Co., 1907.
Signed Presentation Copy inscribed to his great friend, Edward
Thornton. One of 500 signed copies, additionally inscribed in blue/black fountain pen on the ffe:
"Dear Thornton, / Here's luck! How is it / I never hear from you? / Aleister Crowley / [22 Chancery Lane
WC]" Small 4to. The first issue bound in black buckram with white lettering [light out of darkness]. A very good copy with some minor shelf wear & surface rubs; the white silk screened titles still quite sharp - a bit of light foxing to t he fly leafs [Signed by Aleister Crowley beneath his frontis portrait]. The book contains four essays primarily & was one of Crowley's own favourite works. He wrote glowingly of it in his 'Confessions', in particular describing the final essay 'The Stone of the Philosophers' as being " really beyond praise". "I now began to see that this was schoolboyish bashfulness, and to feel my responsibility as an exponent of the hidden knowledge, to treat my prose as reverently as my verse, and (consequently) to produce masterpieces of learning and wit. The "Dedication and Counter-Dedication" of
Konx Om Pax is wholly admirable and it rises to a delightful satirical climax of four stanzas on the "empty-headed Athenians". "The Wake World" is a sublime description of the Path of the Wise, rendered picturesque by the use of the symbols of the Taro, and charming by its personification of the soul as a maiden. "My name is Lola, because I am the Key of Delights, and the other children in my dream call me Lola Daydream." "Ali
Sloper; or the Forty Liars" shows traces of my old vulgarity. The dramatis personae contain a lot of bad puns and personal gibes, but the dialogue shows decided improvement; and the "Essay on Truth" is both acute and witty, with few blemishes.
"Thien Tao" gives my solution of the main ethical and philosophical problems of humanity with a description of the general method of emancipating oneself from the obsession of one's own ideas, while there are passages of remarkable eloquence. The last essay in
Konx Om
Pax, "The Stone of the Philosophers which is hidden in Abiegnus, the Rosicrucian Mountain of Initiation", is really beyond praise. Its genesis is interesting. I had written at odd times, but mostly during my travels with the Earl of
Tankerville, a number of odd lyrics. The idea came to me that I might enhance their value by setting them in prose. I therefore wrote a symposium of a poet, a
traveller, a philosophical globetrotter, an a dept, a classical scholar and a doctor. They are made to converse about the chronic calamity of society, and the poems (ostensibly written by one or other of the men) carry on the thought. The result is, in reality, a new form of art; and I certainly assisted the lyrics by giving them appropriate springboards". -
A.C. $9300
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To 666 From 777 - Achad,
Frater [Charles Stansfeld Jones] Inscribed To A.C.
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[Crowley, Aleister].
Achad, Frater [Charles Stansfeld Jones]. Q.B.L. or The Bride's
Reception: Being A Short Cabalistic Treatise On The Nature And Use Of The Tree Of Life.
Chicago: Printed For The Author, 1922. First edition of Achad's most important book.
Ex-Libris Aleister Crowley.
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Extraordinary Presentation Copy Inscribed By Frater
Achad: "To my Beloved Father / 666 / in the hope that this, my / first book, may meet with / his approval /
777". 8vo., 106 pp + 43pp. + 4 colour plates (including frontispiece) + 1 folded black & white diagram. Limited Edition: #2 of 250 signed copies.
THE MOST IMPORTANT POSSIBLE ASSOCIATION COPY. Black paper-covered boards, linen spine, paper title label, top edge gilt. Label slightly chipped, some wear to corners and edges of boards. Light damping along top margin of first few leaves and a couple of inconsequential nicks. Interesting bookplate of Phyllis
Duveen. A very good & important copy. Aleister Crowley ("666") considered himself to be the "Spiritual Father" to Frater Achad (Charles Stansfeld Jones, "777"), as he relates on page 801 of the CONFESSIONS: "What I had really done ... was to beget a Magical Son. So, precisely nine months afterwards ... Frater
O.I.V., entirely without my k now ledge, became a Babe of the Abyss. ... The Book of the Law speaks of this 'Child' as 'One,' as if with absolute vagueness. But the motto which Frater
O.I.V. had taken on becoming a neophyte was 'Achad,' which is the Hebrew word for 'One.' It is further predicted that this 'Child' shall discover the Key of the interpretation of the Book itself, and this I had been unable to do." In this light, Achad refers to Aleister Crowley as his "Beloved Father" in the INSCRIBED DEDICATION. This is copy # 2 of 250; we presume that copy #1 was retained by the Author. The bookplate of Phyllis
Duveen, the wife of Denis I. Duveen, a noted collector of Alchemical books &
Esoterica] was possibly executed by AUBREY BEARDSLEY (although unsigned). The Duveen Collection is noted for its depth and balance. The catalogue of Duveen's library "Bibliotheca Alchemica et
Chemica: An Annotated Catalogue of Printed Books on Alchemy, Chemistry, and Cognate Subjects in the Library of Denis I.
Duveen," printed in London, 1949 remains a touchstone for scholars and collectors of European Chemistry before 1900. There are some penciled annotations in the margins of the text. These include the following: Page 2 has the phrase "get Essay
Berashith" (to be found in the Collected Works of Aleister Crowley). Page 49 has the word
"Tau" noted across from a discussion of THE UNIVERSE. Page 64 has the phrase "Book 777" across from a section on THE TREE OF LIFE. Page 97 has the phrase
"Liber Legis" in the margin where the author refers to THE INITIATION OF 1917... BY THE MASTERS OF WISDOM FROM OTHER PLANES OF BEING. We cannot confirm that this penciling is in the hand of Crowley, nor of the previous owner Duveen but all things are possible.
$44400
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"For Edward Golston from Aleister Crowley"
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Crowley, Aleister. MOONCHILD.
First edition, first printing. 8vo., A fine copy [very minor spotting to the front edge] in the beautiful bright Beresford Egan designed dustwrapper [only slight spine fade]. An exceptional example further enhanced by Crowley's presentation to publisher Edward Golston in black fountain pen:
"For Edward Golston from Aleister Crowley" - boldly signed. Excellent Copy. MOONCHILD, a piece of mystical fiction from Crowley's eccentric imagination was a roman ŕ clef, in which two societies of rival magicians quarrel over an experiment to incarnate a supernatural being and in which Crowley's politics of the day ran fast & furious. H. Spencer Lewis, the founder of the Rosicrucian organization known as
AMORC, was portrayed as 'Butcher', who want e d to make money with magic.
W.B. Yeats was 'Gates', a minor poet with dirty fingernails. Samuel Liddell MacGregor
Mathers, was portrayed as the primary villain, including him as a character named
SRMD, using the abbreviation of Mathers' magical name . Arthur Edward Waite also appeared in Moonchild as a villain named
Arthwaite, while his friend Allan Bennett, appeared in Moonchild as the main character's wise mentor, Simon
Iff.
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SOLD
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Inscribed
Presentation Copy - THE EYE IN THE TRIANGLE
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Regardie, Israel.
[Aleister Crowley]. Presentation Copy. THE EYE IN THE TRIANGLE. An Interpretation of Aleister Crowley. Saint Paul, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, 1970.
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Regardie, Israel.
[Aleister Crowley]. Presentation Copy. THE EYE IN THE TRIANGLE. An Interpretation of Aleister Crowley. Saint Paul, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, 1970. Signed. 8vo., A near fine copy in the publisher's black cloth, gilt - in a lightly used dustwrapper. Regardie has warmly inscribed this book to Ursula
Greville: "For Ursula / who did some editing on this magnum opus / Love,
Francis." {Regardie dedicated AHA! to Ursula Greville a 'loving, generous, devoted friend of many years who, like Aleister Crowley changed the entire course of my life.'} This is a stated First Edition / First Printing. There is some light wear to the board's extremities & to the crown and foot of the book's spine. There are three small page notations on the final free endpaper. The dustwrapper is not price clipped; with the original publisher's price of $10.00 still intact on the front flap. There is a 1" x 2" chip missing from the top right corner of the front panel and a 2" closed tear in the same area. There are several small chips missing from the crown of the DJ's spine.
"Aleister Crowley has for years been reviled by the public media as 'The Most Evil Man in the World.' And he has for years been hailed by a small handful of scholars as the greatest of modern mystics, the 'Prophet of a New
Aeon.' Now, The Eye in the Triangle appears to clear up some aspects of the dual mystery. In this book Israel Regardie examines the life and work of Aleister Crowley from a sympathetically objective point of view. Many of Crowley's loveliest and holiest works are quoted from sources long out of print. The Eye in the Triangle is essential to an understanding not only of Crowley but of all modern magic and occultism."
- from the book's dustwrapper $2500
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Inscribed
Presentation Copy - THE TREE OF LIFE
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Regardie, Israel.
[Aleister Crowley]. THE TREE OF LIFE, A STUDY IN MAGIC. London: Rider & Co., 1932. Presentation Copy.
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First edition. large 8vo, 286 pp, A very good copy [some shelf wear & wear at the head & heel of the
spine in publisher's black cloth, gilt title, etc. to spine, illustrated, 3 beautiful multicolor plates, 6 other illustrations. The Occult , Mysticism, Aleister Crowley, Magic , Philosophy , Religion , Golden Dawn , OTO , Jewish Folklore , the Kabbala /
Quabala, etc. Presentation Copy - Hereward Carrington (1880-1958) was one of the great psychic & magic researchers of the 20th Century. He was friends with Houdini, Crowley, & other greats in the magic & occult realm. He wrote several books, including "Houdini and Conan Doyle", along with Bernard Ernst. He was President & founder of the American Psychical Institute, had his own radio show in the 1930s/40s. His books are still in publication today. (Francis) Israel Regardie (1907-1985) was an occultist, author an d one time secretary to the legendary Aleister Crowley. As an adept of the now defunct secret order known as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, he became infamous among the occultists of his day for breaking his oath of secrecy and publishing the order's complete rituals in his book "The Golden Dawn". Regardie continued with his occult studies and already established as a co-author, published the first of his own books A Garden of Pomegranates and The Tree of Life in 1932. The first contained his Qabalistic studies and was based on research and knowledge gleaned from various sources. The Tree of Life however was based on the teachings of the Golden Dawn, which had ceased to exist in 1903. When published it caused a lot of excitement among the occult elite and was considered one of the most complete and understandable texts on practical magic ever written. Through out his career, Regardie's own achievements were often overshadowed by his association with Aleister Crowley, which often frustrated him, but his charitable nature and his ability to be forgiving toward his old friend was evident when he authored perhaps the most definitive biography on Crowley called The Eye in the Triangle. Regardie retired from his practice in 1981 and moved to Sedona, Arizona where he continued to write. His later books included Ceremonial Magic, The Lazy Man's Guide to Relaxation, and The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic. While retired he continued to give advice on health and magi cal matters until the end of his life. $1750
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