Item #57498 The Magus. A Complete System of Occult Philosophy. Francis BARRETT, Timothy d'Arch Smith, Stephen Skinner association copy.

The Magus. A Complete System of Occult Philosophy.

New York: University Books, 1967. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Large Quarto (approx 11 1/2 x 9 inches), xxiv + 176pp. + 198pp. Black Cloth with silver titling to spine. Frontisportrait. B/w plates. Diagrams, etc. First published in 1801 "The Magus" was one of the most influential works of the "Occult Revival" and probably the best-known magical text produced in nineteenth century Britain. Barrett styled himself a teacher of "Natural Philosophy, Natural Magic, Cabala Magic, Chemistry, the Talismanic Art, Hermetic Philosophy, Astrology, Physiognomy" in London in the early 19th century. 'The Magus' was essentially an unacknowledged compilation drawn from earlier sources such as Agrippa, van Helmont, and Porta, most of which were then unavailable to any but the most determined researchers. "The Magus did offer the public a fairly complete occult manual, which taught the principles of arithmology and correspondences, planetary and Kabbalistic magic, and scrying technique. A series of potted biographies of 'great magicians' completed the work. There was stuff aplenty for the aspiring magi, as well as for the gothic novelists who were a part of the same reaction against classicism and pure reason" (Godwin, "The Theosophical Enlightenment", p 119). This University Press facsimile edition was the first edition of "The Magus" to be published in the twentieth century, and includes an important Introduction by Timothy d'Arch Smith unique to this edition that also gives the first clear explanation of how the seal and sigils can be extracted from the magic squares (deliberately or otherwise Barrett omits to do this). Although relatively common in softcover, this edition is hard to find in hardcover, thus. This copy from the library of occult scholar Stephen Skinner with his ownership name on the front blank. Lower spine bumped, corners lightly bumped, endpapers slightly browned, pages lightly toned - and very faintly musty. Still overall a tight, unmarked better than VG copy in near VG dust jacket. (Dust jacket a bit chafed, chipped and creased at all edges and extremeties, spine sunned - as common, not clipped). Item #57498

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