Songs For Italy.
NP [ London ]: Privately Printed, ND [1923 ]. First Edition thus. Softcover. Octavo. 16pp. Stapled booklet in original blue/grey wrappers. Upper cover reads 'Songs For Italy /"Parturiunt Montes- / Mascitur Ridiculus Mus" - Solini / by / ALEISTER CROWLEY / June-Sept. XIX Price: One Shilling". A collection of (largely anti-fascist) poetry, published at around the time of Crowley's expulsion from the Abbey at Cefalu (the XIX represents the 'Thelemic Year' 19, ie 1923 ev). A few months earlier Crowley had published several of the poems in this collection in the form of a folded sheet, with the same title. From the collection of Gerald Yorke (1901-1983), with his posthumous bookplate loosely inserted. A great occult scholar and bibliophile, Yorke ("Frater Volo Intellegere") was for a short time Aleister Crowley's chief disciple. In later life Yorke played a crucial role in preserving Crowley's literary legacy as well as in the publication of works on the occult and Eastern religions, editing and commissioning works for a number of British publishers from the 1950s through 1970s. We actually have four copies of "Songs for Italy" which were duplicates from the Yorke collection - he probably acquired them direct from Crowley when they first met in the late 1920s. The staple that secures each is somewhat rusty, the wrappers of all are somewhat discoloured at edges, and they all have a little creasing. All are about VG although each varies a little in condition. We will sell them in order of condition, with the first to order getting the best copy, etc. Item #58812
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