Aleister Crowley: Seer or Psycho.
United Kingdom: Fine Madness Society / Mandrake Press Ltd., 2007. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. Not paginated. Plain black faux leather boards. Copy no. 2 of an edition limited to 20 copies. PLEASE READ DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY BEFORE PURCHASE. A very elegantly printed note tipped into the book by the publisher explains: "Aleister Crowley - "Seer or Psycho" was supposedly a book on Crowley consulted by one of the detectives investigating a death involving "witchcraft, magic and curses" on an episode of "New Tricks" first broadcast on Monday 15th May, 2006 on BBC One. ..... The book was only on screen for a few seconds but it appeared to be a slim hardback book, with a black dust-wrapper featuring a white pentacle design."
The book was released on April 1st, 2007: a date that should have set anyone's alarm bells ringing. Despite that, it led to some intemperate - and sometimes quite embarrassing - displays of know-it-all-ism on various internet forums by people who obviously hadn't actually seen a copy. To say that the content is slight is a gross understatement ... the book is basically blank. In a rather clever touch the ISBN number provided on the rear cover (0451173619) is actually the ISBN number of a book entitled: "Great Hoaxes, Swindles, Scandals, Cons, Stings, and Scams" which was published in 1992. Thus a book for the completist collector only, not the reader. Although unmarked this copy is from the collection of Clive Harper. 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. Still sealed in the original publisher's shrink-wrap. Thus Fine in fine dustjacket. Item #66175
Sold