The Book of the Goetia or the Lesser Key of Solomon the King; From numerous manuscripts in Hebrew, Latin, French and English by the order of the Secret Chief of the Rosicrucian Order. The Best, Simplest, Most Intelligible and Most Effective Treatise Extant on Ceremonial Magic. This Book is Very Much Easier Both TO Understand and to Operate than the So-Called "Greater" Key of Solomon.
Chicago, IL: The Occult Publishing House, ND circa [1910]. First U.S. Edition. Hardcover. Small octavo. viii + 82pp ( + iipp. adverts ). Original black cloth, gilt title and design to front cover. Black and white diagrams of sigils, etc. The true first US edition of Crowley's edition of the famous grimoire of talismanic magic, the Lemegeton of Solomon. Crowley first published the book at Boleskine in 1904, under the title 'The Book of the Goetia of Solomon the King' in an edition of only 200 copies using translations which had been prepared by S. L. MacGregor Mathers, his former mentor in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. As far as is known Crowley, whose name did not appear on his own edition and whose use of the Mathers material was at best questionable, did not did not give permission for this US edition, although given US copyright legislation at the time it is a moot point whether this volume was simply unauthorised, or actually a piracy. The Occult Publishing edition is undated, but consensus amongst scholars is that it was issued in 1910, only six years after Crowley's first UK edition. Some six years after the publication of this edition the notorious publisher and plagiarist L. Willam De Laurence produced his own edition of the book, a true "piracy" in that he not only stole the text but claimed the editorship for himself. 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. This Occult Publishing House edition is genuinely scarce. Hint of shelf-wear, minimal bruising to corners, a touch of bubbling and a few mild dents to the rear board. Owner's name in pencil on front free endpaper (easily erased if so desired). Overall a very nice, tight, clean, unmarked copy and rare thus. No dust jacket called for. Item #71618
Sold