Carmen Saeculare.
London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1901. First Edition. Softcover, Quarto. Green paper wrappers with title etc. and shamrock device printed in black on upper wrapper. (ii) + 30pp. According to Crowley's first bibliographer, Duncombe-Jewell this edition was limited to 450 copies (there were also 6 copies printed on Roman vellum and 50 copies on handmade paper). A book of Crowley's early poetry, comprising a Prologue. (The Exile), Carmen Saeculare, In the Hour Before Revolt, and an Epilogue (To the American People on the Anniversary of their Independence.) In his 'Confessions' Crowley observed " Carmen Saeculare was actually the result of a more or less prophetic vision. Some of its forecasts have turned out wonderfully well, though the century is yet young; others await fulfilment --- but I do not propose to linger on merely to obtain so morbid a satisfaction!" Wrappers are a little chipped around the edges and chipped and splitting at the spine. There is a light triangular shaped damp mark on the inner margin at the bottom of the spine about 3 x 2 x 2 ½ inches and (oddly) another patch, almost the mirror image on the back (at the top). Both are reasonably noticeable on the wrappers, but quickly fade to a very faint slightly yellowed patch in the body of the book. Otherwise the text is internally clean and unmarked. Item #63295
Price: $475.00