[ Phallic Worship ] ANONYMOUS [ Hargrave Jennings ?].

Phallism: A Description of the Worship of Lingam-Yoni, in Various Parts of the World, and in Different Ages, with an Account of Ancient and Modern Crosses, Particulary of the Crux Ansata (or Handled Cross) and other Symbols Connected with the Mysteries of Sex Worship [ Phallicism ].

London: Privately Printed. 1889. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Small octavo. (viii) + 107pp.+ (+ip advert). White parchment covered boards with red illustration and lettering, beveled edges. Frontispiece. A volume in the privately & anonymously published "Nature Worship and Mystical Series" on phallic worship. No indication of limitation is given, but a note in the Preface of a later volume suggests that only 500 copies of this volume were printed. The series is believed to have been authored by Hargrave Jennings (1817-1890) a British Freemason, Rosicrucian, and student of comparative religion. Jennings was best known for his writing on the subject of phallism (phallicism - phallic worship) and its place in the origin of all religions. The anonymity of this series would have been necessary because the subject matter of the work was considered much too controversial for public release at the time. Unfortunately this also makes it difficult to determine whether the books are first editions or not - a few in the series appear to have been first published under other titles, which is why we are calling it a "first edition thus." Jennings was also the author of 'Phallicism, Celestial and Terrestrial', 'The Rosicrucians: Their Rites and Mysteries ' among others. It is curious that there is some confusion as to whether the subject - and thus the title - should be called "Phallism" or "Phallicism". The book itself is titled "Phallism" but in later volumes in the series the work is always referred to with the spelling "Phallicism", which of course became the standard usage when describing the subject. Both the binding and paper stock of the books in this series are notoriously fragile - the present volume is in unusually good condition. It was previously in a Masonic library, and has a shelf number neatly lettered at the base of the spine, and two neat, period bookplates on the front pastedown. No other library markings. The white boards are darkened at the edges, margins and spine (as common), and there is a small one inch split in the lower section of the front hinge. A little rubbing and darkening to the boards, corners bruised. Endpapers unevenly browned, a short tear to the gutter of pp 101 / 102 (probably caused by careless opening). A solid, VG copy that would overall rate better were it not for the shelf-mark and minor flaws. Item #69646

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