The Holy Books.
Dallas, TX: Sangreal Foundation, Inc., 1969. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Octavo. 116pp. White glazed cloth with gilt title, etc. to spine and front cover. Printed through-out in black and dull gold. First edition thus. With a short introduction by Israel Regardie. This copy INSCRIBED & SIGNED by Israel Regardie to his then-wife. As has often been observed, this edition could more accurately have been entitled 'Three Holy Books', as it contains only "Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli Sub Figura VII," "Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente Vel LXV," & "Liber DCCCXIII vel Ararita." Still, it was a ground breaking edition in terms of making these Holy Books available to a broader public - for many years it was the only relatively easy way to access the texts. The 1969 "First Edition Thus" - much scarcer than the 1972 reprint. This copy inscribed at the time of publication by Regardie to his then wife "Alice English" (Alice English Monsarrat, 1915-2005). The inscription is on the front blank and reads: "22 July 1969. For Alice, With love, for Xmas, [signed] Francis" (Francis being Regardie's actual first name, and the name by which he was known to friends and family). Her tidy scattered pencil underlines and neat notes on rear blank endpaper. This copy also has a correction to Regardie's preface which appears to have been made by Regardie himself in the same pen as the inscription: he has struck through an incorrect rendering of one of Crowley's magical mottos, then written the correct version on the facing page, over which an "errata" slip has then been pasted. More recently from the collection of Clive Harper with his discrete book-label neatly tipped in at the rear. Harper 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. The label can easily be removed without affecting the page, although it would be a shame not to preserve this record of the book's provenance. White boards are somewhat darkened overall with some scattered spots of browning (as common), page edges darkened. Overall an about VG copy with a notable association. (no dust jacket - believe none issued with this 1969 edition). Item #65351
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