Item #66789 The Light of Egypt, The Science of the Soul and the Stars in two parts. Thomas H. BURGOYNE, Anonymous, AKA "Zanoni"
The Light of Egypt, The Science of the Soul and the Stars in two parts.
The Light of Egypt, The Science of the Soul and the Stars in two parts.

The Light of Egypt, The Science of the Soul and the Stars in two parts.

Chicago: Religio-Philosophical Publishing House, 1889. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. xiv + 292pp. Original deep green cloth with gilt title, etc. to spine, gilt serpent image on front cover, b&w illustrations, index. Original errata tipped in. The very scarce 1st edition of Burgoyne's famous work. The author, Thomas Burgoyne, was a prominent member of the The Hermetic Brotherhood of Light, a group closely associated with - or possibly even the same as the better-known Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, of which he was the Secretary. The group was probably the only one of its type teaching practical occultism and Western magic before the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. It claimed a line of descent back to the eighteenth century German Rosicrucians, although it first seems to have been active from 1870 onwards. The Order's teachings are said to have taken much from the sex magic practices espoused by Paschal Beverly Randolph, who some say was a member - although like so many things about the group there is uncertainty about this. The Light of Egypt is an extensive magical treatise: to quote the Preface: 'For nearly twenty years prior to the year 1881 the author was deeply engaged investigating the hidden realms of occult force. The results of these mystical labors were considered of great value and real worth by a few friends who were also seeking light. Finally he was induced to place the general results of the researches into a series of lessons for private occult study. The whole, when completed, presenting the dual aspects of occult lore as seen and realised in the soul and the stars, corresponding to the microcosm and the macrocosm of ancient Egypt and Chaldea, and thus giving a brief epitome of Hermetic philosophy, as taught by the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, Egypt.' The book attracted considerable attention at the time of its publication, including comment by Emma Harding Britten, H. P. Blavatsky, etc. This copy has one single library ink stamp on Page 7 - else it appears never to have been accessioned as it is free of any other marks, nor is there any signs of removal. Still, it is a copy that has clearly been read - with a good bit of general shelf wear, cloth darkened and rubbed with some light ripples, all edges and extremities a little chafed. Spine ends, edges and corners bumped. Page edges darkened and a little thumbed, a bit of browning to endpapers, pages toned. Despite wear it is a solid and internally clean about VG copy (no dust jacket). Quite scarce in First Edition. Item #66789

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