The Mysteries of Magic: A Digest of the Writings of Eliphas Levi with Biographical and Critical Essay by Arthur Edward Waite.
New Jersey: University Books, 1974. Reprint of the Second, revised edition with new foreword. Hardcover. Octavo. xvi + 524pp. Green cloth lettered in gilt on spine. Index. A modern reprint with a new Foreword of this broad ranging study of magic, which also touches on alchemy and other of the hermetic arts. Eliphas Levi (Alphonse Louis Constant) 1810 – 1875, was of course one of the most important figures of the nineteenth century occult revival, and was claimed by Aleister Crowley as an earlier incarnation of himself. The translator of this work, A. E. Waite was clearly impressed with it, describing it as 'the most arresting, entertaining and brilliant of all studies on the subject with which I am acquainted.' Hint of bruising to spine ends, otherwise appears unread, thus a tight, clean, near-Fine copy, in near VG+ dust jacket (the dust jacket is crisp and clean with just a touch of toning and shelfwear, and some very light chafing to the edges. Not price-clipped. Now in removable mylar cover). Item #74827
ISBN: 0821602179
Price: $185.00