CROWLEY, Aleister (1875–1947). The Book of Thoth: A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians, being The Equinox Volume III No. V. London: [Chiswick Press for] O.T.O, 1944.
Small 4to (254 x 191 mm). 32 plates, including several mounted and in color after Lady Frieda Harris. Original half crushed niger, printed decorative paper sides with an Egyptian hieroglyphic pattern, spine with 6 compartments and 5 raised bands, gilt–decorations and lettering in 3 compartments, top edge gilt, others uncut, stamp–signed by Sangorski & Sutcliffe (some rubbing to boards, few compartments slightly darkened, extreme ends gently rubbed, front hinge cracked at half–title). (Some penciling throughout).
FIRST EDITION, LIMITED ISSUE, number 11 of 200 copies INSCRIBED BY CROWLEY on limitation under the Sigillum Sanctum Fraturnitatus A.A. device and IN THE DELUXE BINDING. “Original was mainly quarter leather with some few half leather for favored customers” (Cornelius, Crowley Desk Reference). ADDITIONALLY INSCRIBED BY CROWLEY on front free endpaper: “To Her, within whose Golden Circle, all is peace and joy, from Aleister”. ALSO WITH A TYPED MANUSCRIPT POEM SIGNED BY CROWLEY FOR HIS POEM “SEKHET”, here hand–titled “Attente” and affixed along outer margin to the front pastedown with old tape. This poem was originally published in the November 1917 edition of The International under the pseudonym of Adam d’As. It was published as an issue of The Equinox to avoid the Board of Trade’s war–time restrictions on the use of quality paper for new books and it is ONE OF CROWLEY’S MOST IMPORTANT WORKS AND A MOST DETAILED EXPOSITION ON THE TAROT. “To me this Work on the Tarot is an Encyclopedia of all serious ‘occult’ philosophy. It is a standard Book of Reference, which will determine the entire course of mystical and magical thought for the next 2000 years…” (Crowley to his engraver, 29 May 1942). Yorke 63.