Khing Kang King: The Classic of Purity. Liber XXI.
King's Beach, CA: Thelema Publications, 1973. First Thelema Publications Edition. Hardcover. Small Octavo (6 7/8 x 5 7/8 inches). (x) 6 (numbered on rectos only), (ii)pp. With the exception of p. (vi) the pages are printed on the rectos only). Blue-gray cloth with gilt title, etc. to spine and front cover. Printed in blue with deckled page edges. Light blue tint to fore-edge. "Liber XXI" was originally published by Crowley in 1939 in an edition of 100 copies, of which arguably less than a quarter were actually distributed. This is the first ever republication of the book, issued by Helen Parsons Smith (1910 - 2003), ex-wife of Jack Parsons, widow of W. T. Smith, and long time member of Agape Lodge of the O.T.O., under her Thelema publications imprint in 1973. This is the standard edition of the true first Thelema publication, Helen also produced a tiny number of deluxe editions in a different binding, and brought out a new, reset edition of the work in 1974, of which there are a number of variants. Loosely inserted is a single sheet of thick, white, 6 1/2 x 5 inch paper, with the diagram "A few indications for the student of the line to be adopted in his elucidation of Liber AL," printed on the recto - the verso is blank (the diagram was originally published as the final page - p. 138 - of "The Equinox of the Gods"). This was included in some, but by no means all, the copies that Helen sold. 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. The gilt on the cloth is dulled as always (it was dull from new), the loose insert is a little tanned at the head of the page, otherwise about Fine condition. Item #67708
ISBN: 0913576077
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