Astral Worship.
New York, NY: The Truth Seeker Company, ND [ 1895 ]. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. 128pp. Original bright blue cloth gilt-lettered on front board, blind rules. Astrological volvelle (wheel chart with rotating parts) on the front pastedown. B/w illustrations. The author offers theories on the astrological and religious beliefs of the ancient world, which he terms Astrolatory, leading on to short chapters on their modern survivals in Freemasonry and Druidism, and "Roman or Modern Christianity." He acknowledges that his work is heavily influenced by that of Robert Taylor (1784 – 1844), a clergyman turned freethinker, whose outspoken views that Christianity and the religions of the ancients world were fundamentally reworkings of a series of even older solar myths and pagan beliefs earned him the ephitet "the Devil's Chaplain" and caused him to be expelled from the church, and eventually earned him a year in prison for blasphemy. Very light bruising & chafing to spine ends and corners, tiny penned date on front pastedown (Oct 3, 1898), endpapers unevenly browned, - still a tight, bright and complete VG+ copy - in fact it is hard to imagine that a better copy could be found. Item #61452
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