Songs of the Spirit.
London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1898. First Edition. Softcover. Small Octavo. x + 110pp. Original Japanese vellum turned-in wrappers over plain thick paper covers. SIGNED BY ALEISTER CROWLEY. This edition limited to 50 numbered copies, printed on handmade copy (this copy number 7), signed by Crowley on the limitation page. According to Crowley's bibliographer, Duncombe-Jewell, the edition comprised 1 copy on vellum, 50 copies on handmade paper (thus) and 300 copies on machine-made paper. "Songs of the Spirit" was Crowley's first regularly published book: it was preceded only by three privately printed collections of verse which were also published in 1898 (and - it is thought - his obscene 'White Stains', though the publication date of this remains uncertain). Writing of "Songs of the Spirit" in his "Confessions", Crowley observed: "The 'wish-phantasm' of the book is principally that of a wise and holy man living in a lonely tower, master of the secrets of nature. In practice, I was living for pleasure." Contents: Dedication to J. L. B.; In Memoriam A.J.B.; Amsterdam, December 23rd, 1897, The Quest; The Alchemist; Sonnets to Night; The Philosopher's Progress; Sonnet; An Ill Dream; The Student; The Priest speaks; Passover, The Violet's Love-Story; The Farewell of Paracelsus to Aprile; A Spring Snowstorm in Wastdale; In Neville's Court, Trinity College, Cambidge; Succubus; Nightfall; The Initiation; Isaiah, A Sonnet; The Storm; Wheat and Wine; A Rondel; The Visions of the Ordeal; Power; Vespers; By the Cam; Astrology, Daedalus; Epilogue. A near - fine copy. The Japanese Vellum wrappers are a little discoloured with a few spots of browning to the back panel, the corners are a little bruised where they extend beyond the text-block, and the untrimmed edges are a little dusty. A little pale foxing to the deckled edges, where they produce from the text block, and on pp. vi & vii. Still a lovely copy. Item #64713
Sold