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. viii + 24pp. Frontispiece photographic portrait. Printed at the Chiswick Press on fine mould-made paper. This edition limited to 200 signed and numbered copies. This copy is numbered (111), but NOT signed. Crowley's reminiscences - in verse - of the bawdy spectacle of the great festival at Nijni Novgorod (Russia) which he visited in 1913. Some copies included an errata slip on the half-title and two additional poems - "Political Vote. B----y Secret" & "Landed Gentry" tipped in at the rear - this does not. Crowley had tried to get the extra poems, both of which are critical of "the establishment," included in the body of the book, but was rebuffed by several printers who feared that they would be prosecuted for publishing anything that might be considered anti-government propaganda under the strict wartime censorship laws then in operation. Eventually Crowley hit upon the ploy of having a mainstream printer - his old favourite the Chiswick Press - produce the books, and having the "dubious poems" duplicated by a jobbing printer (the 1940's equivalent of a copy-shop). He then had the extra poems tipped into the rear of some of the copies of the books. The copies with extra poems were for the most part distributed in Britain during Crowley's lifetime (consequently they were also normally signed by him). Many of the copies that were sent for distribution in America via Agape Lodge, or after his death, did not include the poems. This was probably because the poems were largely of local significance to the UK and would be meaningless in America, although Crowley may also have been concerned that if sent abroad they would have been subject to increased censorial examination, and possibly confiscation. This copy, does not include either the extra poems or the errata slip. 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, otherwise a lovely, fresh near Fine copy. Item #65307
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