The Magus. Or Celestial Intelligencer; Being a Complete System of Occult Philosophy.
New York NY: Citadel Press, 1989. Facsimile reprint. Softcover. Large Quarto (approx 10 x 8inches), xxiv + 176pp. + 198pp. Frontis portrait. b/w plates. Diagrams, etc. A facsimile reprint of the first (1801) edition of Barrett's influential magical treatise with a new introduction by Timothy D'Arch Smith. "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 widely available 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). Old "new" stock. Hint of light shelf-wear - but otherwise New, and thus near Fine condition. Item #59252
ISBN: 0806504625
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