Aleister Crowley in America

by Tobias Churton

  [The following is the list of Quinn’s Crowley collection provided for the auction of November 14, 1923.]

  2155 Aceldama: A Place to Bury Strangers In; A Philosophical Poem. By a Gentleman of the University of Cambridge [Aleister Crowley]. 12mo, wrappers, uncut. London, 1898. First Edition. One of 88 copies on handmade paper. Privately printed.

  2156 Jephthah: A Tragedy. By a Gentleman of the University of Cambridge [Aleister Crowley]. 12mo, wrappers. London, 1898. First Edition. One of 15 copies, privately printed. Printed on title page “not for sale.”

  2157 Jezebel and Other Tragic Poems. By Count Vladimir Svareff. Edited, with an introduction and epilogue, by Aleister Crowley. 4to, wrappers, uncut. London,1898. First Edition. One of 10 copies on Japan vellum. Privately printed at the Chiswick Press.

  2158 The Poem: A Little Drama in Four Scenes. 12mo, wrappers. London, 1898. A privately printed separate from “Jephthah and other Mysteries.” One of 10 copies issued prior to the publication, with a separate title page and Japan vellum wrappers.

  2159 The Tales of Archais: A Romance in Verse. By a Gentleman of the University of Cambridge. Square 12mo, boards, cloth back, uncut. First Edition. London, 1898.

  2160 White Stains: The Literary Remains of George Archibald Bishop, a Neuropath of the Second Empire. Small 4to, cloth, uncut and unopened. First Edition. One of 100 copies. N.p., 1898.

  2161 An Appeal to the American Republic. 4to, wrappers, uncut. First Edition. London, 1899.

  2162 The Honourable Adulterers. 12mo, wrappers. N.p., 1899. A privately printed separate from “Jephthah and other Mysteries.” Printed on gray paper, with a separate title page and blue printed wrappers. Only a few copies so issued.

  2163 Jephthah, and Other Mysteries Lyrical and Dramatic. 8vo, boards, cloth back, uncut. London, 1899. First Edition.

  2164 Carmen Saeculare. By St. E.A. of M. and S. 4to, wrappers, uncut. First Edition. One of 450 copies. London, 1901.

  2165 Original Autograph Manuscript of “The Soul of Osiris,” written on 121 pages of various sizes, mainly quarto, including a page or two type-written with autograph corrections. Bound in crushed crimson levant morocco, by Zaehnsdorf. In a half morocco slip case. The Original Manuscript, written in red ink, black ink, and pencil. There are numerous autograph corrections, and a few of the separate poems composing this volume contain the author’s autograph. He has written in pencil a title page for the book, at the foot of which is a pencil note: “Lacking A Saint’s Damnation. Lot. Jezebel.”

  2166 The Soul of Osiris: A History. 8vo, boards, cloth back, uncut. First Edition. London, 1901.

  2167 Ahab and Other Poems. With an introduction and epilogue by Count Vladimir Svareff. 4to, wrappers, uncut. London, 1903. First Edition. One of 150 copies on handmade paper. Privately printed at the Chiswick Press.

  2168 Original Autograph Manuscript of “Alice. An Adultery,” written on 138 pages, quarto, and bound in blue levant morocco, by Zaehnsdorf. In a half morocco slip case. The Complete Original Manuscript of one of the author’s rarest works. It is written in red ink, with pages here and there in black ink and pencil, and has many manuscript additions and deletions.

  The Manuscript contains the verse in “White Poppy,” which the editor of the printed book was unable to print.

  2169 Alice: An Adultery. 12mo, original camel’s hair wrappers, uncut. Privately Printed, 1903. First Edition. One of 100 copies on China paper.

  2170 [Berashith]: An Essay in Ontology, with some remarks on Ceremonial Magic. By Abhavananda [Aleister Crowley]. 4to, wrappers, uncut. Privately Printed for the Sangha of the West, [1903] First Edition. One of 100 copies on China paper.

  2171 [New Year’s Card.] Square 12mo, 4-page leaflet. N.p., New Year, 1903. First Edition. One of 50 copies on handmade paper. A Sonnet printed in gold with a scarlet border. Printed throughout in capital letters.

  2172 The God-Eater: A Tragedy of Satire. 4to, wrappers, uncut. First Edition. One of a few copies printed. London, 1903.

  2173 The Argonauts. 12mo, wrappers, uncut. Inverness, 1904. First Edition. One of 100 copies.

  2174 The Book of the Goetia of Solomon the King. Translated into the English tongue by a Dead Hand. Edited, Verified, Introduced and Commented by Aleister Crowley. Illustrations. 4to, camel’s hair wrappers, uncut. Inverness, 1904 First Edition. One of 100 copies.

  2175 In Residence: The Don’s Guide to Cambridge. 8vo, wrappers, uncut. First Edition. Cambridge, 1904.

  2176 The Star and the Garter. 4to, wrappers, uncut. Inverness, 1904. First Edition.

  2177 The Sword of Song, called by Christians, The Book of the Beast. 4to, full blue crushed levant morocco, front cover in gilt squares, uncut, with original blue wrappers bound in, by Zaehnsdorf. Benares, 1904. First Edition. One of a few copies printed on vellum.

  2178 The Sword of Song . . . Wrappers, uncut. Benares, 1904. Third Edition.

  2179 Why Jesus Wept: A Study of Society and the Grace of God. Small 4to, wrappers, uncut. Inverness, 1904. Second Impression.

  2180 Oracles: The Biography of Art. Unpublished Fragments of the Works of Aleister Crowley, with Explanatory Notes by R. P. Lester and the Author. 8vo, wrappers, uncut. Inverness, 1905. First Edition. One of 500 copies.

  2181 Orpheus. A Lyrical Legend. 2 vols., 8vo, boards, cloth backs, uncut. First Edition. One of 500 copies.

  2182 Rosa Mundi: A Poem. By H. D. Carr. With an original composition by Auguste Rodin. 4to, wrappers, uncut. Paris, 1905. First Edition.

  2183 Songs of the Spirit. 12mo, boards, cloth back, uncut. First Edition. Inverness, 1905.

  2184 Collected Works. 3 vols. in one, 12mo, white cloth, gilt top, uncut. Foyers, 1905-6-7. First Edition. Limited Edition printed on India paper. Contains a bibliography of Crowley.

  2185 Gargoyles, being strangely wrought Images of Life and Death. 12mo, cloth, uncut. First Edition. Foyers, 1906.

  2186 Rosa Coeli: A Poem. By H. D. Carr. With an original composition by Auguste Rodin. 4to, wrappers, uncut. London, 1907. First Edition. One of 488 copies on handmade paper.

  2187 Rosa Inferni. A Poem. By H. D. Carr. With an original composition by Auguste Rodin. 4to, wrappers, uncut. London, 1907. First Edition. One of 488 copies on handmade paper.

  2188 The Star in the West: A Critical Essay upon the Works of Aleister Crowley. By Capt. J.F.C. Fuller. Frontispiece. 12mo, cloth, uncut. London, 1907.

  2189 Konx Om Pax: Essays in Light. Portrait in three states. Small 4to, full blue crushed levant morocco, gilt, uncut. By Zaehnsdorf. First Edition. One of a few copies privately printed on vellum.

  2190 Konx Om Pax: Essays in Light. Portrait on Japan vellum. Small 4to, cloth, gilt, gilt top, uncut. London, 1907. First Edition. One of 500 copies.

  2191 Seven Lithographs by Clot from the Water-colours by Auguste Rodin. With a Chaplet of Verse by Aleister Crowley. 4to, cloth, uncut (tear in one leaf). London: Printed for the Author at the Chiswick Press, 1907. First Edition. One of 488 copies on handmade paper.

  2192 Original Autograph Manuscript of “The Mother’s Tragedy,” written on 164 pages, quarto, including a few pages in octavo. Bound in light blue crushed levant morocco, by Zaehnsdorf. In a half morocco slip case. This is a most interesting Manuscript, which is very clearly indicated as having been written at different times and in different places. The Entire Manuscript consists of Preface; Essay on Tragedy; Prologue “Sin”; The Mother’s Tragedy; The Lord’s Day; The Growth of God; Love’s Wisdom; The Pessimist’s Progress; Nephthys; Against the Tide; Styx, and Epilogue, A Death in Thessaly. It is written in red ink, black ink, and pencil. The Poem “Madonna of the Golden Eyes” is written on Hotel Cecil notepaper. One page is typewritten, but has so much autographic material on it, it has been included as an autographic page. London, 1907.

  2193 The Mother’s Tragedy and Other Poems. 8vo, cloth, uncut. Inverness, 1907.

  2194 Tannhäuser: A Story of All Time. 4to, cloth, uncut. Inverness, 1907.

  2195 Amphora. 12mo, cloth, gilt top, uncut. First Edition. Lon
don, 1908.

  2196 Alexandra: A Birthday Ode. 8vo, wrappers, uncut. First Edition. Shanghai, 1909.

  2197 Clouds without Water. Edited from a Private M.S. by the Rev. C. Verey. 12mo, wrappers, uncut. London: Privately Printed, 1909. First Edition.

  2198 777 vel Prolegomena Symbolica ad Systemam Scepto-Mysticæ viæ explicandae fundamentum Hieroglyphicum Sanctissimorum scientiae summa. Plate. 8vo, buckram, uncut. London, 1909. First Edition. One of 500 copies.

  2199 The Equinox. The Official Organ of the A. .A. .The Review of Scientific Illuminism. Vol. I, Nos. 1–9, March 1909 to March 1913. Illustrated. 9 vols., small 4to, boards. Rare. London, 1909–13.

  2200 Ambergris. A Selection from the Poems of Aleister Crowley. Portrait. 12mo, boards, uncut. London, 1910. First Edition.

  2201 [Bagh-i-Muattar] The Scented Garden of Abdullah the Satirist of Shiraz. Translated from a Rare Indian MS. by the late Major Lutiy and another. 8vo, Japan vellum wrappers, uncut. London: First Edition. Privately Printed, 1910.

  2202 The Winged Beetle. 8vo, boards, gilt top, uncut. First Edition. One of 350 copies. N.p.: Privately Printed, 1910.

  2203 The World’s Tragedy. 8vo, wrappers, uncut. Paris, 1910. First Edition. Privately printed for circulation in free Countries. Only a small number printed.

  2204 The High History of Good Sir Palamedes the Saracen Knight, and of his Following of the Questing Beast, rightly set forth in Rime. 4to, buckram, uncut. London, 1911. First Edition.

  2205 Autograph Manuscript of “The King of Terrors,” written on 90 pages, quarto, and bound in limp crimson morocco. In a cloth solander case. This Manuscript is signed at the end in red ink, in bold large characters, and dated 21.11.12. On the flyleaf Crowley has inscribed: “To John Quinn the MS. of my best story (so far). Christmas 1914, a tiny tribute from Aleister Crowley.” At the top of this page he has also written: “This story is printed in Equinox I. IX under the title ‘The Testament of Magdalen Blair.’”

  2206 Household Gods: A Comedy. 12mo, white cloth, gilt top, uncut. First Edition. Pallanza: Privately Printed, 1911.

  2207 In Memoriam: John Yarker. 4to, wrappers. N.p., [1912]. First Edition.

  2208 Mortadello: Or, the Angel of Venice. A Comedy. 4to, white cloth, gilt top, uncut. First Edition. London, 1912.

  2209 Liber CCCXXXIII. The Book of Lies, which is also falsely called Breaks. The Wandering or Falsification of the one thought of Frater Perdurabo, which thought is itself untrue. Portrait on Japan vellum. 16mo, cloth, uncut. London, 1913. First Edition. Text printed within black border.

  2210Art in America; The City of God; The Stratagem; Chants before Battle; To America. All by Aleister Crowley. In the English Review for Nov. 1913; Jan., June, Aug. and Oct. 1914. 5 vols., wrappers. In a cloth slip case. London, 1913–14.

  2211Chicago May: A Love Poem. Large 8vo, wrappers, uncut. N.p.: Privately Printed, 1914. First Edition. One of 50 copies on hand-made paper, signed and numbered by the author.

  2212 Balzac: Hommage à Auguste Rodin. Sonnet. 2 pages, folded. N.p., n.d. One of a few copies printed on Japan vellum.

  2213 Book Four. By Frater Perdurabo and Soror Virakam. Portrait. Square 12mo, boards. N.p., n.d. First Edition. Opposite title page is printed: “Price four tanners, or two shillings.”

  2214 Book Four. By Frater Perdurabo and Soror Virakam. Square 16mo, yellow boards. 94 pages. London, n.d. With “Price four groats or one shilling net” on verso of half-title.

  2215 Hail Mary. 12mo, wrappers, uncut. London, n.d. First Edition with this title. This volume was issued anonymously in 1908 by Messrs. Burns & Oates under the title “Amphora.”

  2216 O. T. O. (Ordo Templi Orientis). An open letter to those who may wish to join the Order; enumerating the Duties and Privileges. 8 pages, folio. In a cloth slip case. London, n.d. Rare. On the 4th and 5th pages Crowley has written: “Please observe that I am obliged to see to this; it is no question of ‘ feeling.’ You need not worry about the matter of buying my letters to Gerda though it was hardly nice, was it? But Mrs. W. must have redress for the abominable and quite unnecessary humiliation put upon her. After all, she has been a true friend to all parties, throughout the whole affair; yet she is the one who has suffered most.”

  The foregoing was written in reference to one of the laws of the order, reading: “Any injury done by any person without the Order to any person within it may be brought before the Grand Tribunal, which will, if it deem right and fit, use all its power to redress or to avenge it.”

  2217 The Rites of Eleusis. 2 photogravures. 8vo, wrappers, uncut. First Separate Edition. [London], n.d.

  2218 The “Rosicrucian” Scandal. By Leo Vincey. 12mo, sheets. N.p., n.d. First Edition. Laid in is a portion of addressed wrapper in the auto-graph of Crowley.

  2219 Rosa Decidua. Photograph frontispiece of Crowley, his wife, and daughter. 12mo, boards, uncut. N.p., [1910]. First Edition. One of a few copies printed.

  2220 Summa Spes. Photograph portrait of the author. 8 pages, small 4to, sewn. N.p., n.d. First Edition. Printed in red within green ornamental border, on Japan vellum. Only a few copies issued.

  2221 The Writing on the Ground. By E.G.O. 8 pages, 12mo, sheets, uncut. N.p.: Printed for the Author, n.d. Contains “A Slim Gilt Soul,” by Aleister Crowley. Reprinted from the Winged Beetle.

  Footnotes

  *1 Emily Bertha Crowley (1848–1917).

  *2 Germany had intentions to replace Spanish power in the Philippines with their own and hoped to exploit the Spanish-American War to that end.

  *3 Possible gay slang acronym for “partner in crime”; that is, penis.

  †4 Britain had just entered the Second Boer War, South Africa, on October 11, 1899; Crowley was highly critical of Britain’s part in it.

  ‡5 “Zelator” grade or 1st degree in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

  §6 “You will be like God”: Kelly’s “neophyte” motto, possibly from the title of a painting by Symbolist Félicien Rops.

  ¶7 Perdurabo: Crowley’s motto as neophyte in the Order; meaning is “I shall endure” (based on Matthew 24:13, with a possible hint of Psalms 72:17).

  *8 In 1905, George Cecil Jones married Julian Baker’s sister, Ethel Melinda. Baker and Jones remained friends even though Baker, unlike Jones, sided with Crowley’s opponents in the latter’s conflict with London members of the GD in 1900.

  *9 Herbert Jerome Pollitt (1871–1942), Cambridge footlights entertainer, friend of Aubrey Beardsley, aesthete, and art collector—and Crowley’s former lover for six months in early 1898.

  *10 According to William Breeze (Notes; The Drug and Other Stories, 641–42), Lieutenant Vincent English, R.N. (retd.), was taken on as the Firefly’s temporary captain as a precaution, the regular captain being Milnes Patmore (1848–1906), son of poet and British Museum librarian Coventry Patmore (1823–1896). Capt. Patmore’s wife was author and historian Katharine Alexandra (née Stewart) Patmore (1865–1942). She was Allan Bennett’s first cousin, and Breeze thinks it likely that Crowley was introduced to the Carlists by Bennett. Furthermore, Breeze reckons that Crowley made a “coded acknowledgement” of that connection by using the name “V. English” as signature to a short story, dedicated to his mother, The Testament of Magdalen Blair (The Equinox I (9), March 1913), which was signed “V. English, M.D.” The manuscript, originally titled “The King of Terrors” (dated November 11, 1912), Crowley gave to American collector John Quinn (whom we shall meet in chapter 8) with the inscription “To John Quinn the MS. of my best story (so far). Christmas 1914, a tiny tribute from Aleister Crowley” (see Quinn’s collection of Crowleyana in appendix 2).

  *11 Glenstrae being the ancestral lands of the once condemned MacGregor clan.

  †12 Meaning “between us.”

  ‡13 That is, “hidden” or “lost,” as editor Ivor Back put it in a footnote to The [Collected] Works of Aleister Crowley.

  *14 Crowley added on the opposite page of the diary MS: “Met Evelyn H[all] accidentally by U.C.L. [University Colle
ge London]. She reaffirms her statements: but her description of the ‘college chum’ is absurd and her whole attitude ridiculous. She knows one fact only—the name Crowley at Cambridge.” The lady was Evelyn Beatrice Hall (1868–1956), a mistress of Crowley from 1900–1901 and daughter of the rector of St. Clement’s, Eastcheap. A writer of fiction, she also published, according to William Breeze’s Notes for The Drug and Other Stories (p. 631), studies of Voltaire, Mirabeau and the women of the French salons. Crowley described her as “thewed and sinewed” in his poem “The Symbolists,” (Konx Om Pax, 1910) evident in Alfred-Pierre Agache’s 1896 portrait of her, The Sword (L’Épée; Ontario Art Gallery). “The Symbolists” is concerned with theology and refers to Evelyn’s “father’s fancy hats.”

  *15 Maria Theresa Henrietta Dorothea de Austria-Este-Modena was the daughter of the duke of Modena and wife of Ludwig, Regent—later King—Ludwig III of Bavaria.

  *16 The reference is to John 1:30: “This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.” The implication is of the Baptist and of spiritual baptism, that is the “water” of initiation. Also a pun: Crowley is coming “after” Kelly, and AC has been through the grade exam before.