A Manual of Occultism.
Philadelphia, PA: David McKay, ND (circa 1912). First US Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. xiv + 356pp. Magnificent original decorated emerald green cloth with gilt titling and design to front board and spine. Top edge gilt. Believed first US edition (see further below). By 'Sepharial' (Dr Walter Gorn Old, 1864-1929) the eminent English Theosophist, who remains well known for his works on astrology and numerology. From the Introduction: "The ancient Hermetic philosophers were well aware of a certain subtile correspondence or analogy existing between the superior and inferior worlds, the world of causation and that of effects. They traced a connection between the noumenal and the phenomenal, between the mind of man and his bodily condition, between the spiritual and the natural. .... It is not my intention in these pages to attempt an exposition of the deeper arcana in connection with the various subjects treated of; but rather to place before the lay reader a number of methods by means of which he will be able to demonstrate to his own satisfaction, and that of others, that there is a deep substratum of truth in what is usually called "Occultism," and that the occult arts are sure and definite means of exploring them." Contents: Part I, The Occult Sciences: Astrology - Sections I, II, III & IV; Palmistry; Thaumaturgic art; Hypnotism and Mesmerism; Part II The Occult Arts: Divination; The Tarot; Cartomancy; Various Methods; Crystal-Gazing; Preliminaries and Practice; Visions and Interpretations; Some Experiences; Geomancy; Casting and Judging the Figure; Symbols in the Twelve Houses; Psychometry; Dreams; Sortileges. Alchemy. The book was first published in the UK by Rider in 1911 and reprinted in 1914. At some stage after 1911 US occult publisher David McKay produced the first US edition, using sheets of the Rider edition with a cancel title-page. It shared the same elaborate decorative cloth binding as the Rider edition, but with the McKay imprint at the base of the spine. Later issues had a plain cloth binding. This is an example of the early (first?) US edition in the decorated cloth binding, In the truly RARE original dust jacket. Errata slip tipped in at p. 3. A little rubbing to the cloth at the edges and folds, some darkening to edges of text block, otherwise a tight unmarked VG+ copy in VG dust jackets (the extremely scarce dust jacket is missing a three inch sliver from the front fold, and a quarter inch strip has been torn from the bottom of the front flap. A few chips and some close splits. Reinforced from the rear with acid-free tissue tape. No protected by removable mylar sleeve). Item #70297
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