The Equinox. Volume III, Number 10. The Review of Scientific Illuminism. The Official Organ of the O. T. O.
New York: 93 Publishing, 1986. First Hardcover Edition. Hardcover. Large octavo. (9.25 x 6.25 inches). 288pp. Beige sailcloth with red gilt embossed O.T.O. lamen to front board, red titling down spine with small ankh-f-n-khonsu seal. B&w frontis and illustrations, maroon endpapers. Color plate tipped in opposite the half title page. This is one of a special sub-limitation of "twelve sailcloth copies, hor commerce, designated by zodiacal sign" - this having the sign for sagittarius (there were also two leather-bound issues, and 93 numbered copies, as well as a softcover release). This ONE OF ONLY 12 COPIES of this issue, includes a lengthy hand-written & SIGNED PRESENTATION INSCRIPTION by the editor Hymenaeus Beta on the half-title page. The book itself is an important collection of writings by Crowley and others, with an Introduction by Hymenaeus Beta. It includes various essays by Crowley, an introduction to the history of the O.T.O., a study of the Gnostic Mass, chapters from Crowley's "Golden Twigs," a study of the work of Kenneth Anger with filmography, and poetry and prose by Harvey Bialy, Robert Kelly, Gerrit Lansing, Charles Stein, and others. This copy most recently from the collection of Clive Harper with his discreet 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. Binding shows some moderate signs of use: the pale beige cloth is a bit darkened in places with a few spots and a little staining to the rear board, and the red-gilt titling to the spine has flaked and dulled a little (as is common with this edition). Page edges lightly browned and flecked with a few faint marks from handling, pages lightly toned, and a small smudge in the ink on Hymenaeus Beta's signature. Overall a tight better-than VG copy of a very limited issue of this significant work. This copy has has had a clear-light weight mylar wrapper added which shows just a bit of light shelf wear. (Some copies were issued with a thick mylar wrapper, this was apparently not one of those). Item #70867
ISBN: 0913576336
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