An Original Typescript: "Do What Thou Wilt. An Introduction to Aleister Crowley" along with a typed letter signed, by Wilson.
NP, (1974). Unbound. An autograph letter signed, and an original typescript. The typescript comprises 72 pages, typed on the rectos only of sheets of regular 11" x 8.5" typing paper. It is an extensive survey of the biography and philosophy of Aleister Crowley, with the last two pages giving details and opinions of two of Wilson's earlier books. In the letter which accompanied it Wilson writes "Here's the copy of the essay as typed by one of my students - with an error on every page, alas … I have another copy (my original) in case this gets lost in the mail. I only made one or two corrections in here, where it was necessary to clarify the meaning. The other errors are left intact, with the thought that a professional typist can perhaps white them out and re-type thereby saving many a page without total retyping of the whole of the page." While Wilson obviously wrote and lectured frequently on Crowley a published form of this particular essay, and thus we believe that it is probably unpublished. The accompanying letter is on the recto only of a single sheet of 11" x 8.5" "Informed Sources" letterhead, with Wilson's typed Berkeley address and the date, November 7, 1974, at the top of the page. It is addressed to "Dear Herb" and begins with the Crowleyan greeting, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." Aside from the passages quoted above, it has two long paragraphs in which Wilson discusses forthcoming projects ("Dell will be bringing forth 'Illuminatus' finally (!) in 3 volumes, Sept-Oct-Nov. - after sitting on it since August 1971!!! (Arrrrgh,)") and current projects including "'Lion of Light,' the long book on Crowley" - which was apparently never published. The letter is signed in ink "Bob W." The typescript is complete, it shows some light wear, a little chipping to the edges of the pages, some light creasing and tanning, and a tear across the final leaf, but overall is in VG condition. The letter has a number of small chips and tears at the edges, but none of these affect these touch the text or signature. As noted above, this would appear to be the only copy of a contemporary "clean[ish]" typescript, the only other early copy being Wilson's original (typed?) manuscript. Item #59624
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