Isis Unveiled: A Master Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology. Vol. I Science & Vol. II Theology (Two Volumes).
New York, NY: J. W. Bouton, 1887. Fifth Thousand. Hardcovers. 2 Volume set. Large thick octavos. xlvi + 628 pp. & (vi) iv + 692pp. (+ xxii pp. publisher's catalogue bound in at rear). Original dark blue cloth with black rules and decorations to boards and gilt titling, decorations and design to spine. Patterned colored endpapers. Frontispiece with tissue guard to Vol. I, folding diagram in Vol. II. A rare early printing of Blavatsky's first major publication, first published by Bouton in 1877. It not only became one of the foundation stones of Theosophy, but was highly influential on the Western esoteric and magical traditions in general, with Aleister Crowley even going so far as to identify her as a fellow Master of the Temple in one essay. Gilt etc. on spine quite dulled as almost always, cloth rubbed, particularly at head and tail of spine and bottom edges. Corners bruised and cloth rubbed through at bottom points. Inner hinges of Vol. I cracked, but holding well. A related newspaper clipping loosely inserted between pp. 28-9 of Vol. I has caused some shadowing to those pages, top and bottom edges of folding chart in Vol. II a little chipped. Still better than VG copies of a scarce set, seldom seen in better condition. Item #57206
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