Arcanum Bestiarum, Of the Subtil and Occult Virtues of Divers Beasts.
Richmond Vista, CA: Three Hands Press, 2012 [ 2013 ]. Deluxe Edition. Hardcover. Small quarto. 246pp. Full brown leather with blind stamped goose foot design to upper board, bronze lettering to spine, hand marbled endpapers, b&w woodcut illustrations by Liv Rainey-Smith, printed in two colour ink on heavy stock. Edition limited to 49 numbered copies: this being copy no. 31. Accompanied by a signed and hand-numbered woodblock print by Bestiarum artist Liv Rainey-Smith corresponding to each enumerated book, featuring an image specifically created for this edition and seen nowhere else- this one being No. 31 - "Animalia". Written in the great tradition of the medieval bestiaries, Robert Fitzgerald's long-awaited new work Arcanum Bestiarum re-imagines the animal menagerie in the context of bestial mystery and atavistic power. Written for the modern magical practitioner and zoophile, the 272-page volume examines the occult virtues and totemic majesties of fifty animals, theriomorphs, and their kindred. Correspondences with deific powers, atavistic wisdom, and mythopoetic emanation are examined, especially in light of the tutelary powers all animals possess. The text is graced with fifty-five original woodcut illustrations by artist Liv Rainey-Smith, prepared especially for this title in close collaboration with the author. Amongst the more ambitious renderings in the work are the occult cryptofauna Homunculus, Manticore, Ouroboros, and Basilisk, as well as animals prominent in the ancient dawn of magick: the Bear, Goat, Viper, Peacock, and more. Completing the design elements is an original typeface designed for the work by calligrapher Gail Coppock, serving to illuminate this grimoire of the Magician’s Primal Eden." 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. The label can easily be removed without affecting the page, although it would be a shame not to preserve this record of the book's provenance. AS NEW copy. Fine condition, with removable clear mylar cover to protect the leather. Lovely production. Item #73640
Price: $575.00