[CROWLEY, Aleister & D'ESTE STURGES, Mary] Frater Perdurabo & Soror Virakam.

Book 4, Part I & Book 4, Part II [ Book Four Parts 1 and 2 ] ( 2 Volume Set); (2 Volumes)

London: Wieland, ND (1912 & 1913). First edition(s). Hardcovers. 2 Volumes. Both small square octavos (Approx. 5 3/8 inches x 5 3/8 inches). Vol. I: x + 94pp (+2pp. adverts), 2 photographic illustrations, & Vol II: viii + 186pp, b&w illustrations, errata slip tipped in facing title page. Vol. I: original printed cloth over flexible card boards, plain black cloth backstrip; Vol. II) original printed paper over flexible card boards, black cloth spines with paper title-label on spine (none issued on Volume I) Volume I is the second issue of the First Edition, with the publisher's address given as "33 Avenue Studios, South Kensington." Volume II is the first (and only) issue of the First Edition. The first two Volumes, complete in themselves, on mysticism and 'magick' respectively - of Crowley's magnum opus, "Book 4" (all issued thus). The third volume (which had the separate title "Magick in Theory and Practice" came out in different format in 1930, the fourth (on "The Book of the Law") did not appear as such during Crowley's lifetime. These volumes in their original distinctive 'flashing bindings.' An unusual example of the book as talismanic object, with the design by Crowley reflecting the (itself symbolic) number 4 (a theme carried through from the square shape; 4 equal sides; to the original prices, 4 groats and 4 tanners respectively). As far as is known, only 500 copies of Part II were printed.
The two volumes are housed together in a Fine custom-made protective portfolio, covered in black buckram book-cloth, lined with archival paper, and with printed paper spine label and panels reflecting the original design.
Condition: Vol. I: there is a light bump to the upper corner of Vol. I and its boards are a little darkened and rubbed, otherwise it is a VG + copy. Vol. II: as often with this fragile volume it shows some wear and tear. The paper boards are rubbed and rounded at the corners, and there are some creases running down them (this is typical of Vol. II which had plain paper over flexible boards, whereas Vol. I had a more resilient treated paper). The front board of Vol. II actually seems to have been torn in half vertically down the middle, but it has been neatly repaired on the inside, so that at a glance this appears to be no more than a crease. On the inside the tear is covered by the bookplate of a well-known modern Thelemite. Unusually about 95% of the paper spine label is intact. Internally the volume is clean and tight. A good solid example of an important early magical work by Crowley (neither volume issued with dust jacket). Item #60342

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