Konx Om Pax. Essays in Light.
Chicago, IL: The Teitan Press, 1990. Facsimile edition. Hardcover. Square Octavo. xxii + 108 pp + 12 pp of adverts, black cloth with white titling to spine and front cover, frontis. The magnificent Teitan Press edition of Crowley's "Konx om Pax", including an important Introduction by Crowley scholar Martin P. Starr. This copy SIGNED and warmly INSCRIBED by the editor Martin P. Starr to Oliver Marlow Wilkinson on the blank facing the title-page. Additionally - and unusually - signed by Frank Winston, co-founder of the Teitan Press. "Konx om Pax" is a collection of magically-orientated poetry, plays and essays and was clearly one of Crowley's own favorite works. He wrote glowingly of it in his "Confessions", in particular describing the final essay "The Stone of the Philosophers" as being "really beyond praise." From the library of Oliver Marlow Wilkinson (1915-1999) dramatist, author, educator and raconteur. Oliver was the son of Louis Umfreville Wilkinson (1881-1966) an English man-of-letters who wrote a number of satirical autobiographical and fictional works, mostly under the pseudonym "Louis Marlow." Louis Umfreville Wilkinson was a good friend of Aleister Crowley's, the two had an extensive correspondence, and Crowley respected Louis's literary skills to the extent that he engaged him to prepare a popular edition of Crowley commentaries on "Liber AL." Crowley also made Louis one of his executors, and it was Louis Wilkinson who caused some uproar amongst the more excitable members of the press by reading from Crowley's "Hymn to Pan" and other of his works at the Beast's funeral. Louis's son Oliver also knew Crowley well; indeed he was the one that found Crowley the rooms at Netherwood that became his final home and Crowley, along with John Cowper Powys, is said to have jointly shared the honour of being Oliver's godfather. Oliver Wilkinson inherited many of the Crowley books and papers that had belonged to his father Louis, including a number of signed and inscribed items, etc. etc. In the 1980s Oliver refreshed his interest in Crowley, meeting with a number of contemporary Crowley afficiandos including Martin P. Starr, and writing an Introduction to a new edition of his father's book "Seven Friends" which included a chapter-long reminiscense of Crowley. In 2021 Weiser Antiquarian books acquired the remains of Oliver's Crowley collection, which comprised some of the books and pieces of ephemera that had belonged to his father, as well as books, such as this, that he himself had bought or was given in the 1980s and 1990s. A small posthumous book-label, tipped in at the rear, identifies it as having come from his collection. White design on front board somewhat rubbed and darkened, as common, top corners lightly bruised, edges a little darkened, internally clean and unmarked. A tight, clean VG+ copy (no dust jacket issued). Item #69727
ISBN: 0933429045
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