Obeah Simplified, the True Wanga! What it Really is, and How it is Done!; A Scientific but Plain Treatise from a Popular Point of View, and Divested as Far as Possible of All Technical Terms
United Kingdom: The Society of Esoteric Endeavour, 2018. Limited Deluxe Edition. Hardcover. Small octavo. [vi] + 140pp. B&w and colour Illustrations. Full black leather with dramatic white illustration and lettering to upper cover, white lettering to spine, black endpapers. The total print-run was limited to 193 copies, divided into three different variants. The deluxe version, of which this is an example, comprised the first 55 copies, bound in leather, with double endpapers (black printed and additional embossed) and numbered between 1 - 55, this being number 32. An unusual work on African Magic by a self-identified practitioner, originally published in Trinidad in 1895. The editor of this new edition, Christopher Josiffre, provides an Afterword in which he discusses the works possible influence on Aleister Crowley (the words Obeah and particularly Wanga were extremely obscure at the time, yet both can be found in "The Book of the Law" which was "received" some 9 years later) and explores its content and context. This is followed by a series of appendices reprinting related essays on African magic, as well as a survey of the annotations in Gerald Yorke's copy. Contents: Advertisements; Preface; Chapter I. Definitions; Chapter II. Initiation, Kanji Stones, Protection of Fields etc.; Chapter III. Excitement to love, Dirty Clothes Oracle, "Setting On" Jumbies, Causing Disease etc.; Chapter IV. Use of Spells and Incantations on Men and Animals; Chapter V. The Use of Glamour and Wanga Power, Rain Making and Controlling Elements; Chapter VI. Hagging, Vampires, Drawing the Shadow, Lycanthropy, Silk Cotton Tree; Chapter VII. Fair Maids, Nature-Spirits, Virtuas; Chapter VIII. Theopea: Modus Operandi of certain Ancient Feats; Chapter IX Ancient Sorcery, Superstition, Mamans Dijou, Livre Rouge, Conclusion; Advertisements. Christopher Josiffre - Afterword: Introduction; Influence upon Aleister Crowley; Sympathetic Portrayal of Obeah; Identity of Cassecanarie; Concluding Remarks; Endnotes. Appendices: Shamanism and Witchcraft Amongst the Kolararian Tribes by Miad Koyora Koria Hon, African Magic by Tau-Triadelta; Varieties of African Magic Parts I and II by Miad Hoyora Korahon; The True Wanga - Marginalia, Underlinings and Other Markings in the Warburg Copy. The publisher sold out of copies of this issue on the day of publication. Like NEW. A few natural blemishes to the leather, otherwise Fine condition (no dust jacket issued). Item #70060
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