The Equinox: Volume III Number 10. The Review of Scientific Illuminism. The Official Organ of the O.T.O.
New York, NY: Thelema Publications, 1986. First Edition - Deluxe Limited Leatherbound. Hardcover. Large octavo. 288pp. Hand bound in full brown calf leather with OTO lamen on upper board and titling on spine embossed in blind. Housed in the original felt-lined matching slipcase. Original wrappers from the soft-cover edition bound in. Marbled endpapers, b&w illustrations, One of only five copies of this edition bound thus, each of which was SIGNED by the editor, Hymenaeus Beta (Frater Superior of the O.T.O.) and reserved for presentation (hors commerce). Instead of a number, each of these five copies has the symbol for a different element - this volume has the symbol 'spirit.' This volume INSCRIBED on the first blank to "Soror Gahad IX" [Helen Parsons Smith] from Hymenaeus Beta. The most limited of four deluxe editions: there others were a leather edition limited to 22 copies each designated by a different Hebrew letter; twelve sail-cloth bound copies (hors commerce) designated by zodiacal sign; and 93 sail-cloth bound copies designated by number. There was also a regular softcover edition. The volume contains a wealth of introductory and other documents pertaining to the O.T.O., a history of the Order after Crowley's death which includes an account of the legal dispute with Marcelo Motta, and various works of magical instruction, poetry, essays etc., as well as a study of the films of Kenneth Anger with a filmography. The original recipient of the book, Helen Parsons Smith (1910 - 2003), was the ex-wife of Jack Parsons and widow of W. T. Smith, and long time member of Agape Lodge of the O.T.O. She was also was one of the pioneers of Crowley publishing in the USA in the 1970s with her Monthelema and Thelema Publications imprints. More recently the volume is 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. The book appears unused - thus Fine condition with just some very light rubbing to clothbound slipcase. Item #65377
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