The Joyous Cosmology, Adventures in the Chemistry of Consciousness.
New York, NY: Pantheon Books, 1962. First Edition. Hardcover. Small quarto. xx + 98pp. Original black cloth with titling etc. on gilt spine label, blind stamped title on upper board, numerous b&w illustrations. Foreword by Timothy Leary & Richard Alpert. The first edition of this evaluation of the mystical and change of consciousness effects of drugs, including LSD, mescalin, hallucinogenic mushrooms, by Alan Wilson Watts , drawn in part by the author's records of his own experiments. Watts (1915-1973), was of course the well-known British-born philosopher, and one time Episcopal priest who moved to America where his many books on Eastern Religions & mysticism were extremely influential on the Beat movement of the 1950s and counter culture of the 1960s. Corners and spine ends lightly bumped and rubbed, cloth a trifle faded and rubbed at edges, page edges a bit darkened & foxed. Pages are lightly toned but bright and unmarked. Overall a tight clean VG+ copy in VG- dust jacket (Dust jacket is a bit rubbed overall, all edges and extremities are chafed, upper spine creased and chipped, not price clipped. Dust jacket now in a removable clear mylar protective cover). Item #64024
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