The Natural Genesis; Or Second Part of a Book of the Beginnings concerning an attempt to recover and reconstitute the Lost Origines of the Myths and Mysteries, Types and Symbols, Religion and Language, with Egypt for the Mouthpiece and Africa as the birthplace ( Two Volume Set ).
New York, NY: Samuel Weiser, Inc., 1974. First Edition Thus [ Second Edition ]. Hardcovers. Small Quartos. Two volumes (complete set). Volume I: xvi + 552pp & Volume II: viii + 536pp. Attractively bound in matching rust colored cloth with gilt embellishments and titling to maroon spine panels. Comparative vocabulary list, index. Along with "A Book of the Beginnings" (1882) and "Ancient Egypt: The Light of the Ancient World" (1907), "The Natural Genesis" (1883) is one of the major works of self-taught Egyptologist, prolific poet, antiquarian and mythographer Gerald Massey (1828 - 1907). Massey was particularly focused on the symbolism and myth of ancient Egypt and later civilizations. An evolutionist, who believed that human beings had evolved from apes in central/southern Africa before spreading to north Africa / Egypt, where true civilization developed, he described his works "A Book of the Beginnings" and "The Natural Genesis" as " ...an attempt to recover and reconstitute the lost origins of the myths and mysteries, types and symbols, religion and language, with Egypt for the mouthpiece and Africa as the birthplace." In "The Natural Genesis" he went on to expand the ideas that he had already presented in "A Book of the Beginnings" and sought to establish a typology of world cultures, and to discover and explore the links between myths, religion, symbolism, customs, etc. of other cultures, and those of ancient Egypt, which he deemed to be their source. Massey's ideas, were largely rejected by the scientific community, but embraced by many occultists and Masons, including Albert Churchward, with whom Massey collaborated, and Mme. Blavatsky, who cited Massey on numerous occasions in "The Secret Doctrine." Kenneth Grant also drew heavily on Massey, and cited him frequently in the first series of the Typhonian trilogies, noting specifically in "Nightside of Eden," " ... Yet, despite the limitation imposed upon Massey in respect of the lack of initiated texts available in his time, his work remains of the utmost value in that it traces more accurately than does that of any other writer, before or since, the line of emergence, the evolution and history of the symbolic vehicles of the Typhonian Current which the present writer has sought to explain in all his works. With the exception of Sir John Woodroffe and Aleister Crowley, no western writer, other than Massey, has touched upon the vital content of the genuine gnosis, the true magical tradition" (Grant: "Nightside of Eden," p. 110). Covers slightly darkened and with just a hint of light shelf wear to the corners, edges and spine. Square 5 x 5 inch color image of the Egyptian "Dendera Zodiac" affixed to the front pastedowns of both volumes. Top edge of text-blocks of both volumes darkened and foxed and fore-edges of text-blocks a little flecked and lightly thumbed. Pages lightly toned. Otherwise a clean and unmarked VG+ set. (Lacks original flimsy card slipcase that was issued with the set, no dust jackets issued.) Scarce hardcover edition. A moderately large, heavy, set. Additional shipping to that automatically quoted will be required, the exact amount to dependent on destination. Item #71727
ISBN: 087728248X
Price: $350.00