The Tarot. A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages.
Richmond, VA: Macoy Publishing Company, 1975. Reprint. Hardcover. Octavo. (iv) + 216pp. Original beige cloth with red title, etc. to spine, frontispiece, b&w illustrations. From the library of artist Larry K. Barnes, the publisher of "The Necronomicon" with an AN ORIGINAL CARTOON-LIKE DRAWING AND INSCRIPTION BY BARNES on the front free endpaper. Larry K. Barnes (1952-2001) known as "Kozmo" to his friends, was - with Peter Lavenda and James Wasserman - one of the trio who achieved the publication of the "Necronomicon", with Barnes being largely responsible for the mechanics of the publication of the book. Interestingly Barnes refers to this in the cartoon. Barnes was also fascinated by UFOs and delighted in drawing aliens and alien landscapes. The book has a previous owner's name which Barnes has incorporated into his design, so it reads "This book was [owner's name] Now it Belongs to Larry Kozmo Barnes, artist and publisher of "The Necronomicon" Beneath this is a drawing of a bulbous-headed alien, with a cartoon bubble saying "Best of Luck Earth Scum. The End of Your Pathetic Race is Near." The outlines of a couple of other alien figures are in the background, as well as several sigils. It is dated 5/10/99. The book itself is of course Paul Foster Case's examination of the tarot and it's correspondences with the Hebrew alphabet. Someone has written "Do what thou wilt / Frater G" in the upper margin of the title page, and there is a presentation note in red pen from the same Frater G to someone else, written in the upper margin of the first page of the section on the tarot card "The Tower." Three or four pages towards the end have some underlining and circling of words in thin felt-tip pen. The covers are worn and marked, particularly the back cover, spine ends bruised and rubbed, page edges bit darkened. Obviously well-read, and not-so-well cared-for - but still a solid, tight, G+ copy (lacks dust jacket) with an obviously unique inscription. Item #69569
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