Richmond Vista, CA: Three Hands Press, 2010 / 2012. First Edition, 'X-Series'. Hardcover. Octavo. 144pp. Bound in fine maize cloth with copper titling to spine and device to upper board. Beige endpapers. Title page and in-text llustrations, bibliography. This title was issued in 2010 in an edition limited to 462 hand-numbered copies (and an edition "deluxe" of 44 copies). This is one of a later 'X-Series' issue, bound from a small number of surplus sets of sheets bound and released by the publisher in 2012. This copy is hand-numbered "31 of 44" on the limitation page. It is identical to the first issue, except that the X-series were issued without dust jacket and have an "X" neatly hand-lettered in gold on the limitation page. From the Publisher: 'Aleister Crowley's obscure Liber 231 remains one of his most enigmatic received magical texts, and one whose genesis directly concerns the workings of astral magic and trance-mediumship. A Gathering of Masks is the summation of direct magical workings with the Genii of the Domes, the spirits governing the revealed mystery of Liber 231, and serving as the wards of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. Fulfilled by the author over a period of a decade, the twenty-two evocations of the Genii of the Domes reveal a patterning of power and gnosis heretofore little-explored in the practice of the Art Magical. The book commences with the author's Introduction, entitled "By Seal and Sphere: A Treatise on Astral Magic". The heart of the work is comprised of twenty-two oracles, each of which is accompanied by a commentary and a unique Queen Scale sigil derived from the Work. The book also includes several illustrations by artist-author Barry William Hale of Fulgur Limited. Of interest to scholars of Thelema and practitioners of ceremonial magic, A Gathering of Masks stands as an outré magical record of the Divinatory Art.' 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. A tight, clean near Fine copy. (No dust jacket issued with this "X" series). Item #70914

Price: $220.00