The History of a Soul. An Attempt at Psychology.
London: The Equinox, 1910. Limited Edition. Hardcover, Octavo. viii + 296 pp (+ ii pp adverts). Green cloth, gilt title, etc. to spine and front boards. Edition limited to 1000 hand-numbered copies of which this is Number 96. The author, George Raffalovich was one of Crowley's closest friends and disciples until the inevitable falling out. Crowley thought highly of Raffalovich's literary work, which he praised in his "Confessions" and published regularly in "The Equinox" series, as well as separately under his Equinox imprint. Crowley published "The History of a Soul" under the Equinox imprint in 1910, but perhaps due to financial issues, he passed the remaining unsold stock to the publishers Francis Griffiths in 1913 who reissued the book under their own imprint. The edition listed here, with "The Equinox" imprint on the title-page, etc., represents the first issue. The printed dedication by Raffalovich is obviously to Crowley: "To my Master, I inscribe this the record of the early life of a future Magus ...." and the story clearly shows his influence. The two pages of advertisments at the rear are for Crowley's publication, "The Equinox." 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. Cloth lightly rubbed, corners and spine ends of boards lightly bruised, a little browning to endpapers, and an erasure on front pastedown. A solid, VG or better copy (no dustjacket - none issued). Item #70920
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