Zos-Kia : An Introductory Essay on the Art and Sorcery of Austin Osman Spare.
London: Fulgur Ltd, 1995. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. 52pp, Original brown cloth, with gilt titling etc. to spine. Stiff printed paper dustjacket and plain paper-covered slipcase. All edges gilt. Eight pages of colour photographs of artwork by Spare, along with numerous black and white photographs and reproductions of his pictures. "A personal and lucid view of Spare's systems of sorcery, and the most authoritative critical work in recent years to utilize original unpublished material in presenting the philosophy of one of the most sought-after sorcerers of today." The book has a complex bibliographic history. It was originally intended that it would issued in four variants: (a) 3 copies for private distribution, quarter bound in morocco; (b) 7 hardcover copies in full buckram, etc. in slipcase, personally sigilised, for private distribution; (c) 70 hardcover copies as per (b) but signed rather than sigilised (d) 515 softcovers bound in paper wrappers. Due to problems with the gilding (not apparent on this copy) the 70 copies of issue (c) were not offered for sale, but instead were passed to the author for private distribution. Of these 31 copies were distributed with a slip case (as this copy) and 39 were without slipcase. In place of the original issue (c) the publisher had a separate issue, with slipcase, but without gilt edges, of 39 copies. Confused? Not surprising. So to be clear, this is one of only 31 copies in slipcase, of what might be termed "the author's issue." All edges are gilt, but it is not signed or numbered. Loosely inserted is the large, square, talismanic bookmark that was originally included (some copies also had a publisher's bookmark, not included in this copy). Merest hint of shelf-wear, but overall Fine in Fine dustjacket and slipcase. Item #52098
Price: $600.00