CROWLEY, Aleister.

The Works of Aleister Crowley. Traveller's Edition. With Portraits [ The Collected Works of Aleister Crowley ] (3 Volumes in 1 in Vellum).

Foyers: Society for the Propagation of Religious Truth, 1907. Traveller's Edition. Deluxe Vellum Issue. Hardcover, Three volumes in one, each with separate title page. Octavo, Vol. I: x + 270pp, Vol, II: viii (+ 2) + 282pp, Vol: III viii + 248pp. Original gilt stamped white vellum stiff wrappers, with silk ties. Printed on India paper. Each volume with frontispiece portrait, those in Vols. I & II including Crowley's signature in facsimile. The title on each of the title-pages reads simply "The Works of Aleister Crowley" (along with "Traveller's Edition", "With Portraits", the Volume number, publisher's imprint and year) but the set is commonly known as "The Collected Works of Aleister Crowley" which is the title that appears on the front cover. This so-named "Traveller's Edition With Portraits", which included the three volumes of Crowley's "Collected Works" within one binding is arguably the most handsome of the single-volume issues of the "Collected Works" that Crowley published, with its attractive vellum binding, and three portrait frontis-pieces (which were omitted from the cheaper issues). Each volume is individually dated (1905, 1906, 1907) but although each was printed in its respective year, this set obviously was not issued until 1907.
"The Collected Works" basically gathered together most of Crowley's work that had been published up until the release of the third volume in 1907. It was edited by his friend, Ivor Back, who provided a short Preface to Vol. I. The contents was largely poetry and plays, although the set did include a magical essay, "Berashith",which was first published in 1903, and a number of previously unpublished or especially revised pieces, notably a lengthy "epilogue and dedication" entitled "Eleusis." For obvious reasons it omitted altogether Crowley's "obscene" works: "White Stains" and "Snowdrops from a Curate's Garden," and the dubious "Alexandra." It does, however, include "The Sword of Song", which has an Appendix (Ambrosi Magi Hortus Rosarum) the initial letters of some of the hanging notes of which spelled out indecencies, some of which are still considered unprintable. For this reason "The Collected Works" was cited in the "Looking Glass" libel trial of 1911, as indicative of Crowley's immorality. The "Collected Works" were first issued in cheap form (paper wrappers and without plates) as an affordable way for people interested in Crowley's works to access them, in particular those that planned to enter the competition for the best essay on his own works, which Crowley was then running. The competition was famously won by J. F. C. Fuller - said to have been the only entrant - although contrary to popular lore Crowley, who was still flush with funds at the time, did pay him the promised cash prize. According to Crowley's first bibliographer, L. C. R. Duncombe-Jewell the entire print consisted of 1000 copies (plus one copy printed on vellum for Crowley's personal use). Given these 1000 copies were divided between at least 6 known contemporary variant issues / bindings all are comparatively scarce and as noted, this vellum bound issue is arguably the nicest of the three-in-one issues.
With the Egyptian/occult-themed book-plate of Australian born book-collector, magician and alchemist Tony Whittington on the front pastedown. More recently from the collection of Clive Harper with his discreet 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.
As always the vellum boards have a tendency to splay if the ties are not used. The vellum is lightly rubbed, but overall in lovely condition, with the silk ties intact (it is possible that these have been replaced - it is almost impossible to tell as if so it has been very skilfully done). Fresh endpapers. A lovely tight, clean, unmarked VG + copy. Item #65635

Sold