Picatrix. The Goal of the Wise. Volume I: Containing the Book I and Book II of the Ghayat al-Hakim, here translated into English for the first time, AND Volume II: containing the Book III and Book IV of the Ghayat al-Hakim, here translated into English for the first time (Two Volumes).
Seattle, WA: Ouroboros Press, 2002, 2008. First English Language Edition - Deluxe Subscriber's Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. Two volume Set (complete). xviii + 174pp & vi + 300pp. Original mahogany-coloured fine leather bindings, each with raised bands and gilt titled spines, marbled endpapers, ribbon markers. Each volume housed in its original cloth slipcase, that of Vol. I imprinted with "Subscriber's Edition" in gilt on upper panel. The rare "subscriber's edition" of the Ouroboros Press "Picatrix." When Ouroboros Press decided to publish "The Picatrix" they put out a call for subscriber's asking for them to help cover the initial printing costs etc by paying in advance for a copy of the first volume. In all thirty-one individuals and groups responded. Each in turn received a copy of the first printing of the first volume thus: specially bound in fine mahogany coloured leather, encased in a slip case imprinted with "Subscriber's Edition", and with a printed list of the names of the subscribers at the rear. When, six years later, Ouroboros Press embarked on the publication of the second volume they sent out a notice to the original subscribers (only) asking them if they would like to subscribe to the second volume, and receive a volume specially bound to match the first. Of course in the intervening years many of the original subscribers had changed address, circumstances, etc. and although it is not known how many responded, it was a much smaller number, certainly less than two dozen. This is thus one of the few complete sets of the Subscriber's Edition, with both volumes having been ordered by Clive Harper, whose name is included in the subscriber's list. Each of the volumes was meant to be hand-numbered, but Vol. I is un-numbered (presumably an oversight by the publisher) and Vol. II has the number six. Apparently the total number of sets of sheets printed for the Ouroboros Press edition was 1000 copies for Volume I, and 1500 copies for Volume II. After the "Subscriber's Edition" were bound, the rest were bound either in cloth or black leather, with a few sets later bound in vellum. The publisher said of the book itself: "'The Picatrix, or Ghayat Al-Hakim' as it is titled in Arabic ... has long been regarded as source material in the Hermetic tradition. The text of this Medieval work consists of four books covering the art and practice of Astrological, Talismanic, and Astral Magic. ... Brought out of the obscurity of the Middle East it passed through the hands of many prominent figures throughout the history of Hermetic thought .... Marsilio Ficinoo, Pico della Mirandola, Peter of Abano, and Henry Cornelius Agrippa were among them. ... Volume One contains the first two books of Ghayat Al-Hakim, and Volume II the third and fourth books." From the collection of Clive Harper with his discreet book-label neatly tipped in at the rear of Vol. II. 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. One quirk of the publication is that Vol. I is about an eighth of an inch taller than Vol. II - presumably a mistake by the publisher. A little light shelf-wear to the slip-cases, otherwise a lovely about Fine set the truly rare "subscriber's issue" of this significant work. Item #67819
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