The Fun of the Fair ( Nijni Novgorod, 1913 e.v. ).
London: The O.T.O., 1942. First Edition thus. Original thick paper wrappers, with red titling to upper wrapper. Large Octavo. viii + 24pp. Frontispiece photographic portrait. Printed at the Chiswick Press on fine mould-made paper. The first separate edition, limited to 200 signed and numbered copies. SIGNED TWICE by CROWLEY. This copy, No. 19, SIGNED by Crowley under the frontis portrait and additionally INSCRIBED and SIGNED by Crowley on the limitation page: "To / Isidor (sic) Kerman / a tiny token of gratitude / for 'much kindness' / from Aleister Crowley." The signature is a very large, clear example, with his well-known "phallic A." The recipient, Isidore Kerman (1905-1998), was Crowley's solicitor: he represented Crowley in the ill-fated "Laughing Torso" case against Constable, as well as consulting him on various matters relating to the Thoth tarot, the prepartation of his will, etc. "The Fun of the Fair" is Crowley's reminiscences - in verse - of the bawdy spectacle of the great festival at Nijni Novgorod (Russia) which he visited in 1913. Errata slip tipped onto half-title. This copy does not include the four additional pages of poetry - 'Political Vote. B----y Secret' & 'Landed Gentry' which were inserted at the rear of some copies distributed in Britain. The absence may be deliberate - Crowley might have thought they would offend or alarm the lawyer - or it may be that Crowley sent out some low-numbered copies of the volume, like this, before receiving the insert, which was separately printed. It is noteworthy that although the edition was limited to 200 copies a substantial part of the print run - probably at least 100 copies - remained unsigned at the time of Crowley's death, so signed copies such as this are scarcer than their already small limitation would suggest. From the collection of Clive Harper who is well-known as the bibliographer of Austin Osman Spare, for updating the Aleister Crowley bibliography in the 2011 Teitan Press collection of Gerald Yorke's writings, and as someone who has lent his expertise to numerous other publications. Harper's discrete book-label is neatly tipped in at the rear (it could easily be removed without affecting the book, although it would be a shame not to preserve this record of its provenance). Wrappers a little creased where they overlap the text block, one diagonal crease across the back wrapper, otherwise a bright, clean, near-Fine copy, with a significant association and an unusual double signature. Item #65297
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