The Secret Grimoire of Turiel.
London/New York: The Aquarian Press/Samuel Weiser, 1960. First edition. Hardcover. Octavo. 42pp. Black cloth lettered in gilt on spine. b/w illustrations. The introduction to the book recounts a complex story in which a de-frocked Priest offered an original sixteenth century Latin manuscript of the grimoire for sale, along with an English translation of it, in 1927. The editor purchased the translation of the work, which describes a system of ceremonial magic, and which he here published as "The Secret Grimoire of Turiel." Recent research however makes it seem most likely that the text is actually drawn from manuscript compiled by the nineteenth century English occultist Frederick Hockley, using earlier sources. The book was first published in softcover (only) by the Aquarian Press, England, in 1960, and then reissued in hardcover by them in 1971. They arranged to do a joint printing with Samuel Weiser of New York, with Weiser to do the distribution in America. To save costs all copies were printed in the UK, and the US and UK editions were identical, the only difference being that the US edition had Weiser's details on the title-page and the spine. This copy is lacking the title page, author's name on spine has been blacked out and a small tear at upper spine has been repaired. Otherwise just light shelf rubbing and signs of use. Text complete. Overall a Good and serviceable copy (no dust jacket). Item #61910
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