The Mysteries of Magic: A Digest of the Writings of Éliphas Lévi.
London: George Redway, 1886. First Edition. Hardcover. Large Octavo. xliv + 352pp + (48pp publisher's catalogue at rear). Blue cloth boards with bevelled edges. Upper cover with a border rule stamped in red and a central design of "The Pentacle of Faust" stamped in gold. Lettered across spine in gold with gold rules at head and foot. Epilogue, supplement and notes. All edges uncut. Perhaps the first truly significant publication of Lévi's work in the English language. R. A. Gilbert tells that Waite was fascinated by the quotes from Lévi that he read in Blavatsky's "Isis Unveiled" (1877) and that Waite promptly acquired a copy of Lévi's major work, "Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie," which he began translating into English. In 1885 Waite suggested to the prominent Theosophist A. P. Sinnett that an anthology of Lévi's writings based on these translations would make a good book. Sinnett evidently agreed, and recommended him to the publisher George Redway, who took on the project, thus beginning what would turn out to be a lengthy collaboration with Waite. In addition to translating and editing Lévi's essays, Waite contributed a Biographical and Critical Essay. [Gilbert B1] This copy includes a 48pp Redway catalogue dated March 1889 bound in at the rear, (the earliest catalogue thus seen by Gilbert is dated September 1886). Small, faint, contemporary book distributor's stamp at bottom of title-page: "Boston, Mass: / Occult Publishing Co." "Martinist Order" hand-written and printed with rubber stamp at head of title-page. Cloth a bit rubbed, a little darkened at spine and outer margins of boards. Corners and spine ends lightly bumped and a little frayed, with several small chips to cloth at head and tail of spine, and one small snag to cloth on bottom edge of rear board. Modern owner's bookplate on front pastedown, one inch tear to fore-edge margin of front free endpaper (closed with acid free tissue tape on verso). Pages a little toned, a little shaken, endpaper hinges starting to crack but holding firm. Overall a clean, better than VG copy of a genuinely scarce First Edition that is virtually never found in better condition (no dust jacket issued). Small, faint, contemporary book distributor's stamp at bottom of title-page: "Boston, Mass: / Occult Publishing Co." "Martinist Order" hand-written and printed with rubber stamp at head of title-page. Cloth a bit rubbed, a little darkened at spine and outer margins of boards. Corners and spine ends lightly bumped and a little frayed, with several small chips to cloth at head and tail of spine, and one small snag to cloth on bottom edge of rear board. Modern owner's bookplate on front pastedown, one inch tear to fore-edge margin of front free endpaper (closed with acid free tissue tape on verso). Pages a little toned, a little shaken, endpaper hinges starting to crack but holding firm. Overall a clean, better than VG copy of a genuinely scarce First Edition that is virtually never found in better condition (no dust jacket issued). Item #70517
Sold