CROWLEY, Aleister.

The Book Of The Law [technically called Liber AL vel Legis, sub figura CCXX as delivered by XCIII = 418 to DCLXVI].

Pasadena: Privately issued: The O.T.O. / Church of Thelema, 1938 [1942]. First U.S. Edition. Softcover, small octavo ( 5 x 6 1/2 inches) 50pp. (+ 6pp adverts at rear) Booklet stapled in gilt-stamped blue wrappers, with title and A.: A.: sigil gilt stamped on upper wrapper. The First U.S. Edition of "The Book of the Law." The edition was prepared by W.T. Smith directly from the British edition of 1938, although it omits the final three leaves of notices and advertisements, and instead adds a two page notice headed simply "O.T.O." comprising material about the Order extracted from "The Equinox." According to Smith's biographer, Martin P. Starr, the reset text was carefully checked, but in a typical case of overlooking the obvious, they forgot to replace the original publication date on the title page (1938) with the intended publication date October 31, 1942. In a perhaps deliberate acknowledgement of wartime sensitivities, the words "Democracy Dodders" which had been the very first sentence of the fifth chapter the Introduction were omitted. The book was published under the imprint of The Church of Thelema, 1003 S. Orange Grove Avenue, Pasadena California. It is a handsome production, and is one of the few Thelemic publications prepared by a follower of which Crowley is known to have approved. Edges a little dusty, otherwise about Fine condition, and unusual thus. Item #62304

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