The Holy Books.
Dallas, TX: Sangreal Foundation, Inc., 1969. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Octavo. 116pp. White glazed cloth, gilt title and embellishments to spine and front cover. Printed through-out in black and dull gold. Errata slip loosely inserted. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by Israel Regardie on the front blank to Thomas Head: "For Thomas Head, with the wish that this book may be as inspiring to him as it has been to me. Israel Regardie" (see further below). As has often been observed, this edition could more accurately have been entitled 'Three Holy Books', as it contains only "Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli Sub Figura VII," "Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente Vel LXV," & "Liber DCCCXIII vel Ararita." Still, it was a ground breaking edition in terms of making these Holy Books available to a broader public - for many years it was the only relatively easy way to access the texts. This 1969 "First Edition Thus" is much scarcer than the 1972 reprint. The recipient, Thomas Head (d. 1999), was a personal friend of Israel Regardie, and an avid book collector, well-known for his encyclopaedic knowledge - theoretical and practical - of different occult traditions. He was also a skilled linguist, and as an expert on the Enochian language, and is said to have studied with W. E. Butler, and Dion Fortune, amongst many others. More recently the volume is from the collection of Clive Harper, with his discrete 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. The white covers, often a bit yellowed, are bright white - thus a well cared for copy, with just a little bruising to corners and spine ends. Pages a little toned, edges of text block a little darkened. Overall a a tight, solid VG+ inscribed copy with a notable association (no dust jacket - none issued with this 1969 edition). Item #70876
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