Thame, England: Mandrake Press, Ltd., 1991. Limited - First Edition thus. Hardcover. Octavo. 48pp. White cloth with gilt device on upper board. Frontis. Edition Limited to 350 numbered copies. This copy SIGNED by Keith Richmond on the title page. From the Introduction "Of the many curious and obscure Crowley works "Alexandra" is one of the most mysterious. For reasons uncertain, Crowley later chose to disregard the book completely, not even giving it so much as a mention in his otherwise quite comprehensive "Confessions." The blanket of silence that Crowley cast over "Alexandra" subsequently led to much confusion concerning the nature and history of the book. Crowley wrote "Alexandra" some time during the years 1905 or 1906, presumably for the amusement of himself and a small circle of friends. As can be judged from its long and mocking title page, "Alexandra" is basically a sustained jest at the the expense of traditionalist poets, Alfred Austin and Owen Seaman ... and the establishment which accepted and supported them." There is some uncertainty as to whether the original 1909 Edition of this book was ever actually issued - if so then all copies of it must (as one story goes) have been amongst a shipment of Crowley books that were destroyed by British Customs ("Alexandra" apparently, on account of disrepectful references to the British Royal Family). Only two proof copies are known to have survived, and the text of one of these - that held in the Yorke collection - provided the basis for this edition. A lovely clean near Fine copy in near Fine dust jacket. Item #69572
ISBN: 181872736041

Price: $135.00