The Great Beast. The Life of Aleister Crowley.
London: Rider & Co., 1951. First edition - First Impression. Hardcover. Large octavo. 316pp. Original blue cloth with gilt title, etc. to spine, b&w frontisportrait & illustrations, bibliography and index. This copy SIGNED by John Symonds on the title page. The book that started it all for so many. The first edition of Symond's biography of Crowley, the book which introduced the children of the Fifties and Sixties to the Great Beast. Early printings like this include, as an appendix, Gerald Yorke's ground-breaking Bibliography of Crowley. A great association copy from the collection of Clive Harper with his small early ownership name stamp on the front pastedown, and his penciled acquisition date "June 1978" on the front pastedown. This was at the very start of his Crowley collecting career, and Harper purchased the copy from a then-still-youthful Nicholas Bishop-Culpeper, whose penciled bookseller notations adorn the front free endpaper. Harper later took it to his first meeting with John Symonds, who then signed it for him. Harper of course updated Yorke's Aleister Crowley bibliography for republication in the 2011 Teitan Press collection of Gerald Yorke's writings, and is additionally known for lending his expertise to numerous other publications as well as being the bibliographer of Austin Osman Spare. His discreet book-label is also neatly tipped in at the rear. Light general shelf-wear, light bruising and chafing to spine ends, edges and points, spine a bit faded, page edges darkened, short pencil notes by Nicholas Bishop-Culpeper and an earlier bookseller on the front free endpaper, pages toned but unmarked. Overall tight, clean about VG condition - (includes the front panel ONLY of the striking dust jacket illustration). Although far from pristine, signed copies of the First Impression are genuinely scarce, and this has a wonderful multiple association. Item #67149
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