The Key of Solomon the King ( Clavicula Salomonis ).
London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1974. Reprint. Hardcover. Small quarto. xii + 128pp. Original green cloth with gilt title, etc. to spine, frontis, b/w illustrations. Long counted as amongst 'the most famous, or infamous, of all magical textbooks' this translation of the so-called "Key of Solomon" is based on 7 manuscripts then housed in the British Museum. The translation is by S. L. MacGregor Mathers, one of the founders and leaders of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, occult scholar, and nemesis of Aleister Crowley. It was first published in 1889, reissued in 1909, and remained out-of-print except for shabby pirate editions until it was reissued by both Routledge Kegan Paul (UK) and Samuel Weiser (US) with a new introduction by Richard Cavendish in 1972. This is the second printing of that edition, published in 1974. This copy has the address label of Clive Harper on the front pastedown under inner front flap of the dust jacket. 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. Faint discolored line across middle of boards (presumably an artifact of the binding process, faint shelf wear, some toning to pages & page edges. There is also a two inch straight tear to the upper fore-edge of the title-page, closed from behind with acid-free tissue tape. Otherwise a tight, unmarked, copy. About VG in VG dust jacket. (Dust jacket heavily faded at spine, a little light shelf-wear, no protected by removable mylar cover). Item #71678
ISBN: 0710073240
Price: $65.00