The Original Engraved Metal Printing Plate of a Portrait of Aleister Crowley by Augustus John which Crowley Used to Print a Post-card which he Distributed to Friends. With An Original Example of the Postcard.
The plate is made of thin metal (steel?) with the image being approx. 4 5/8 x 2 3/16 inches, mounted on a 7/8 inch thick wooden block, that overlaps the metal by about an 1/8 inch on each edge. The postcard is 5 1/4" x 3 1/4" thin white card with a black and white reproduction of the image on the recto, and a blank verso. The plate and card reproduce a portrait of Crowley by Augustus Edwin John OM RA (1878 – 1961), a Welsh artist - notably a portraitist - who was a major figure in the British art-world of his time and a friendly acquaintance of Crowley's for over thirty years. John drew a number of portraits of the Beast, including one that was published in the "The Equinox, Vol. I, No. VII" (1911) and this image, which was reproduced as the frontispiece to the last book by Crowley to be published during his lifetime, "Olla, An Anthology" (1946). Crowley was evidently rather taken with the portrait, and had the plate made and a small number of these cards produced, which he gave out to friends and well-wishers, in the year leading up to his death. Depending on the angle at which it is held, the engraving on the plate varies from not-very-visible to reasonably clear. Although not intended for the purpose the plate makes an interesting display piece. A couple of light scratches and marks to the surface, but over all VG condition. The postcard is in Fine condition. Item #67673
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