De Laurence's Catalog of Books on Occultism - Magic - Mysticism - Religion - the Cabala - Yoga - Astrology and all related esoteric subjects - occult students' equipment, talismanic and Symbolic Jewelry.
Chicago, IL: The de Laurence Company, (1944). First Edition Thus. Softcover. Royal octavo. (iv + xvi - adverts) + 554pp. Printed wrappers. An impressive catalogue of books and other items of occult interest offered for sale by De Laurence, with an obvious emphasis of books and other items produced by the company. This catalogue is practically a book in itself, giving a survey across the board of occult subjects, with numerous b/w illustrations. Lauron William de Laurence (1868 - 1936), was a well-known publisher and seller of occult literature, who was also a book pirate and plagiarist who was not averse to taking other people's works and reissuing them under his own name (sometimes re-titling them in the process). Despite his roguish eccentricities de Laurence played an important part in the occult history of the USA: he was a pioneer in selling occult books and supplies by mail order, and the cheap "Pow Wow" books and other books of simple magic which he published were surprisingly well received, and he is quite revered in some quarters. Stapled in at the front (obviously by the publisher), are four pages with amended prices replacing pp. 519-522. Although de Laurence's catalogues are undated, this includes an "Important Notice!" at the front advising of tax changes with came into effect on April 1944, after the catalogue had been printed, so clearly the catalogue dates from early 1944. Cheap production values. Spine faded, chipped, with short splits at head and tail. Pages uniformly toned, and with a few small chips and tears to the edges (a natural consequence of the cheap paper on which it is printed). Still a solid, VG copy of a scarce, EARLY de Laurence catalogue. Item #62082
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