Rosa Coeli, Rosa Mundi, Rose Inferni.
Paris: Ph. Renouard, 1905, 1907 & 1907. First Edition / Limited edition. Softcovers. 3 Volumes, Folios. (1) "Rosa Mundi" (1905): (viii)+ 16 + (iv) pp., Original rose-colored wrappers. Color lithograph of reclining female nude executed by Clot after a pencil and wash design by Auguste Rodin. Tissue guard. One of only 10 copies on China paper (there were also 488 copies on handmade paper and 2 copies on vellum). (2) "Rosa Inferni" (1907): (viii) + 8 + (iv)pp. Original rust-colored wrappers. Frontispiece color lithograph of reclining female nude executed by Clot after a pencil and wash design by Auguste Rodin. One of an edition of 488 copies on handmade paper (there were also 10 copies on China made paper and 2 copies on vellum). (3) "Rosa Coeli" (1907): (viii) + 18 + (iv)pp. Original medium blue wrappers. Frontispiece color lithograph of a reclining female nude executed by Clot after a pencil and wash design by Auguste Rodin. All housed in a custom made black book-cloth portfolio, with printed paper title-label to spine.
Three suites of poems written by Crowley for his then-wife, Rose, and published in 1905, 1906 and 1907 respectively. The frontispiece of each is a reproduction of one of the pencil / water-colour female nudes which Rodin presented to Crowley during a visit in 1903. The series is actually far scarcer than it's limitation implies: apparently much of the stock was stored in a warehouse that flooded, and was thus destroyed or damaged.
From the collection of Clive Harper with his discrete book-label neatly tipped in at the rear. 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.
From the collection of Clive Harper, with his discreet book-label neatly tipped in at the rear of the portfolio. 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.
Volumes are seldom seen in good condition due to the aforementioned warehouse flood, their size and the fragility of their wrappers.
Cloth portfolio in fine condition. Condition of books: "Rosa Mundi": wrappers a little faded; endpapers darkened; moderately heavy foxing to limitation page, frontispiece and title-page, some marginal tears and a little chipping to top edge from careless opening. "Rosa Inferni": wrappers a little darkened and with some chipping to the edges; endpapers darkened; moderately heavy foxing to limitation page, frontispiece and title-page, pages largely un-opened. "Rosa Coeli": wrappers a little darkened in places, splitting at spine and with numerous small chips and tears to the edges. Moderately modest foxing and greying to limitation page, frontispiece and title-page. Despite its flaws an about VG set in better condition than usually found. Item #69701
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