Item #64150 An original hand-coloured, matted, illustration - "The Pantacles of Ezekial and Pythagoras" - from the first English edition of Eliphas Levis' "Transcendental Magic. Its Doctrine and Ritual." Eliphas LEVI.

An original hand-coloured, matted, illustration - "The Pantacles of Ezekial and Pythagoras" - from the first English edition of Eliphas Levis' "Transcendental Magic. Its Doctrine and Ritual."

London: Redway, 1896. First Edition. An original illustration from the First English Edition of Eliphas Levis' "Transcendental Magic. It's Doctrine and Ritual" which was translated by A. E. Waite and published by George Redway in 1896. The illustration, which has been cropped, is approximately 3 inches x 5 inches. The "Explanation of Figures Contained in this Work" describes it as representing "The Pantacles of Ezekial and Pythagoras." According to Levi's notes: "The four-headed Cherubim of Ezekiel's prophecy, explained by the double triangle of Solomon. Below is the wheel of Ezekiel, key of all pantacles, and the pantacle of Pythagoras. The cherub of Ezekiel is here represented as it is described by the prophet. Its four heads are the tetrad of Mercavah; its six wings are the senary of Bereschith. The human figure in the middle represents reason; the eagle's head is faith ; the bull is resignation and toil; the lion is warfare and conquest. This symbol is analogous to that of the Egyptian sphinx, but is more appropriate to the Kabbalah of the Hebrews." The illustration is behind a modern cream-coloured acid-free mat board (outer size is 5 x 7 inches), with foam backing board, ready for framing. The mat board is fine - as new. The illustration is a little discolored, but overall in VG+ condition. Scarce. The first English edition of "Transcendental Magic" (which was translated from the revised French edition of 1861) is uncommon and copies are rarely so damaged that they are beyond restoration - and thus individual plates and diagrams seldom come on the market. It is not known who coloured the illustration, or when, but it was certainly not done in the last few decades. The illustration is guaranteed from the original 1896 edition, and thus over 100 years old, and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Item #64150

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