The Book of the Law. Liber AL vel Legis. With a Facsimile of the Manuscript as Received by Aleister and Rose Edith Crowley on April, 8, 9, 10, 1904 E.V. Centennial Edition.
York Beach, ME: Weiser / Red Wheel, 2004. First Edition Thus "The Centennial Edition" Hardcover. Octavo (7.25 x 5.875 inches). 158 (+ii)pp. Matt papered boards with gilt & white titling on spine & and front board, and gilt decorations to front board. Black endpapers, red silk marker ribbon. Printed throughout in red and black. Color reproductions of the obverse and reverse of the Stele of Revealing. The First printing of the "regular version" of the US Centennial Edition of "The Book of the Law" - appropriately enough (given the times) printed in China (there was also a very limited deluxe leather edition). This copy from the library of British artist, writer and musician DAVID TIBET (founder of the music group Current 93) with his OWNERSHIP SIGNATURE above the printed dove and chalice seal facing the title page.
The first printing is identifiable by two number rows on the verso of the title page: "10 09 08 07 06 06 04 [above] 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" The body of the work comprises the Introduction, and text of "The Book of the Law" (Liber CCXX), as taken from the 1938 UK edition, but with the inclusion of the corrections that were made to the 1942 US Edition. There follows the "Introductory Note" from "AL, Liber Legis, The Book of the Law" (the 1926 Tunis Edition), a fascmile of the manuscript of "The Book of the Law" (Liber XXXI) prepared from digital scans made by the O.T.O. in 1997, then two pages of quotations and "The Comment" from the Tunis Edition. The obverse and reverse of the Stele of Revealing are reproduced in color, along with Crowley's poetic paraphrases of the hieroglyphs (from "The Equinox" Vol. I, No. VII), and then the "Colophon" of the Tunis edition. Then a six page bibliography of references and an excellent Editorial Note signed V.V. (Hymenaeus Beta) which details the construction of the volume. An updated version of the two page notice starting "Life & Liberty" that was in the rear of the 1938 UK edition completes the book. Covers lightly rubbed with a few faint marks from handling, text bright and unmarked. Otherwise a solid VG+ copy (no dust jacket issued). Item #68424
ISBN: 1578633087
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