[Rarebooks] FS: Occult and Metaphysical Books, Part Three

[Michael John Thompson]

FS: Occult and Metaphysical Books. From the Library of Charles Muses.
Prices in US dollars. Terms: as usual.


52) MONTEIRO, Mariana., LEGENDS AND POPULAR TALES OF THE BASQUE PEOPLE. 
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS IN PHOTOGRAVURE BY HAROLD COPPING., New York: Frederick 
A. Stokes Company. 1891. "Popular edition", originally issued in 1887. 
Octavo, original pictorial blue cloth, floral endpapers. 374 pp, Glossary, 
4 striking photogravure plates by Copping. From the library of Dr. Charles 
Muses, author of occult and esoteric works & founder of the Jacob Boehme 
society, with his notes in pen on the recto of the rear endpaperand his 
name-stamp on the half-title leaf.This copy seems to be lacking the tissue 
guard for the frontispiece, a few small marks to the cloth and one little 
snag, otherwise (and overall) a very good, bright copy. $55.00

53) MYER, Isaac - Solomon Ben Yehudah Ibn Gebirol., QABBALAH. THE 
PHILOSOPHICAL WRITINGS OF SOLOMON BEN YEHUDAH IBN GEBIROL OR AVICEBRON AND 
THEIR CONNECTION WITH THE HEBREW QABBALAH AND SEPHIR HA-ZOHAR, WITH REMARKS 
UPON THE ANTIQUITY AND CONTENT OF THE LATTER, AND TRANSLATIONS..., 1st 
edition, second issue. Quarto, original turquoise cloth with red leather 
spine label titled in gilt. 350 copies printed. A large folio edition of 
150 numbered copies signed by the author also exists. Qabbalah. The 
Philosophical Writings Of Solomon Ben Yehudah Ibn Gebirol Or Avicebron And 
their connection with the Hebrew Qabbalah and Sephir ha-Zohar, with remarks 
upon the antiquity and content of the latter, and translations of selected 
passages from the same also An Ancient Lodge of Initiates, Translated From 
The Zohar, And an abstract of an essay upon the Chinese Qabbalah, contained 
in the book called the Yih King, a translation of part of the Mystic 
Theology of Dionysus, the Areopagite; and an account of the construction of 
the ancient Akkadian and Chaldean Universe. 499 pp., Index, Errata, 
Illustrations. From the library of Dr. Charles Muses, author of esoteric 
works and founder of the Jacob Boehme society, with his pencil notes in the 
text and the margins throughout. Some minor scuffing to the binding, a 
clean, very good copy. $200.00

54) OLDHAM, Brigade-Surgeon C.F., THE NAGAS. A CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY 
OF SERPENT-WORSHIP. [FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, JULY, 
1901]., London: Royal Asiatic Society. 1901[?]. 1st edition. Octavo, 
original printed wrappers. [13] pp [461-473]., plates. An off-print from 
the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, July, 1901. This appears to be a 
an article which was a precursor to Oldham's book THE SUN AND THE SERPENT, 
Constable, 1905. From the library of Dr. Charles Muses, author of occult 
and esoteric works & founder of the Jacob Boehme society, with his pencil 
notes at the rear endpaper and minor marginalia throughout. Light browning 
to covers, a very good copy. Rare, OCLC lists but one copy in libraries 
worldwide. $100.00

55) ORPHEUS. HAMBERGER, Georg Christoph [General ed]; Johann Gesner, Henri 
Estienne, Andreas Eschenbach [eds]., LITHICA. ORPHEUS HAPANTA. ORPHEI 
ARGONATICA HYMNI LIBELLUS DE LAPIDIBUS ET FRAGMENTA CUM NOTIS H. STEPHANI 
ET ANDR. CHRIST. ESCHENBACHII. TEXTUM AD. CODD MSS. ET EDITIONES VETERES 
RECENSVIT NOTAS SUAS ET INDICEM GRAECUM ADIECIT JO. MATTHIAS GESNERUS CUR, 
Lipsiae (Leipzig): Sumtibus Caspari Fritsch. MDCCLXIV (1764). First 
printing of this edition, translated into Latin from the Greek under the 
general editorship of Geo Christo Hamberg. Octavo, bound in modern blue 
cloth over marbled boards, gilt titles on spine. Xxviii + 484 + [98] pp. 
Handsomely printed by Officina Bretkopfiana, decorative head- and tail- 
pieces, printer's colophon. The Lithica of the "mythical" Orpheus, a rare 
work which concerns the magical and medicinal properties of gemstones. The 
text is entirely in Greek and Latin. From the library of Charles Muses, 
with his extensive pencil notes to the text and on the rear endpaper. Two 
19th Century library tickets on the verso of the title leaf; bookbinder's 
ticket at rear. A very good copy. Full title page reads: [Greek: ORPHEUS 
HAPANTA ]. ORPHEI ARGONATICA HYMNI LIBELLUS DE LAPIDIBUS Et Fragmenta Cum 
Notis H. Stephani Et Andr. Christ. Eschenbachii. Textum Ad. Codd Mss. Et 
Editiones Veteres Recensvit Notas Suas Et Indicem Graecum Adiecit Jo. 
Matthias Gesnerus Curante Ge. Christo Hambergero. $225.00

56) OUVAROFF, M. [Sergei Semenovich UVAROV], ESSAY ON THE MYSTERIES OF 
ELEUSIS. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY J.D. PRICE, WITH OBSERVATIONS BY 
J.D. CHRISTIE., London: Printed for Rodwell and Martin. 1817. First edition 
in English, translated from the 3rd French edition of 1816. Octavo, 
original boards, printed title label on spine panel. 188 pp, Engraved title 
page, plus three additional engravings (one folding) depicting scenes from 
the mysteries. From the library of Dr. Charles Muses, author of occult and 
esoteric works & founder of the Jacob Boehme society, with his pencil notes 
on the rear endpaper, final two blank leaves and his pencil notes and 
marginalia throughout. Binding a bit chipped at edges, boards glazed; a 
very good copy. $125.00

57) PETTIGREW, Thomas Joseph., ENCYCLOPAEDIA AEGYPTIACA; OR, DICTIONARY OF 
EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES; GENERAL VIEW OF ANCIENT EGYPT: FORMING THE 
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. AAH-ABO (ALL PUBLISHED)., London: Whitaker and Co. 
1842. 1st edition. Octavo, original printed wrappers. 32 pp., two plates 
(including a hand-coloured plate of Thoth, The Egyptian God of Letters. To 
be issued in monthly parts by subscription, this is apparantly the only 
issue published. OCLC cites but one copy of this issue (Oxford University). 
Thomas "Mummy" Petrigrew was a surgeon and antiquarian who became an expert 
on Ancient Egyptian mummies. He became well known in London social circles 
for his private parties in which he unrolled and autopsied mummies for the 
entertainment of his guests. He was the author of "The History of Egyptian 
Mummies" 1834 and was one of the founding members of the British 
Archeological Society.Small damp spot on cover and first few leaves; a very 
good copy. $250.00

58) PIGNORIA, Lorenzo., MENSA ISIACA, QUA SACRORUM APUD ÆGYPTIOS RATIO & 
SIMULACRA SUBJECTIS TABULIS ÆNEIS SIMUL EXHIBENTUR & EXPLICANTUR. ACCESSIT 
EJUSDEM AUTHORIS DE MAGNA DEUM MATRE DISCURSUS, & SIGILLORUM, GEMMARUM, 
AMULETORUM ALIQUOT FIGURÆ & EARUNDEM EX KIRCHERO CHIFLETIO, Amsterdam: 
Andreas Fries. 1669. Third (and best) edition. Small quarto. Contemporary 
full calf, the spine with raised bands and decorated gilt in compartment, 
gilt titles. Extra engraved title page, [10], 96 pp., [1 plate + 11], [7 +1 
plate], 96 pp. With three engraved title pages [as well as the preliminary 
extra engraved title leaf], plus 9 full-page engraved plates, title 
vignettes, initials, tail-pieces, and numerous intaglio illustrations in 
the text. Considered to be the first notable work on Egyptology. "Mensa 
Isiaca", the Bembine Tablet of Isis, discovered during the sacking of Rome 
in 1527, sold to Cardinal Bembo, a celebrated antiquary of the Republic of 
Venice. One of the most celebrated of Egyptian antiquities, the Bembine 
Tablet resides today in the museum in Turin. It has long been considered a 
key to the mysteries, occultists as great as Eliphas Levi have attempted to 
decipher it. Levi considered it to be a key to the Tarot. It is thought by 
many to be some sort of initiation altar. This is the best and most 
complete edition of the first work on the Bembine tablet, initially issued 
in 1605 under the title VETUSTISSIMAE AENEAE SACRIS AEGYPTORUM. The author, 
Pignoria, examened the Tablet while it was in the possession of Cardinal 
Bembo, and he believed it to be a representation of sacrificial ceremonies 
according to Ancient Egyptian rites. The MENSA ISIACA is here bound with 
Pignorio's MAGNAE DEUM, an essay on the Goddess or great mother of the 
Gods(first published 1623) and Jacobo Philippo Tomasino's MANUS AENEAE 
CECROPII VOTUM, which is paginated along with the MAGNAE DEUM but has a 
separate engraved title page (as does the MAGNAE DEUM). This copy is 
apparently lacking the folding plates, various auction records call for up 
to eleven folding plates; there are no folding plates in this copy. The 
plates which are present, however, are beautiful specimens, executed in the 
best style by Enea Vico. Head of spine slightly cracked, and with light 
wear to the edges of the binding but altogether a solid very good copy, 
quite clean and attractive. Full title reads: MENSA ISIACA, Qua Sacrorum 
apud Ægyptios ratio & simulacra subjectis tabulis æneis simul exhibentur & 
explicantur. Accessit ejusdem authoris de Magna Deum Matre discursus, & 
sigillorum, gemmarum, amuletorum aliquot figuræ & earundem ex Kirchero 
Chifletioque interpretatio. Nec non Jacobi Philippi Tomasini Manus ænea, & 
de vita rebusque Pignorii dissertatio. $450.00

59) PINCH, Geraldine., VOTIVE OFFERINGS TO HATHOR., Oxford: Griffith 
Insitute / Asmolean Museum. 1993. First edition. Octavo, original red 
boards titled in gilt on spine panel. 408 pp, Index and abbreviations used, 
plans, 64 poages of plates. From the library of Charles Muses, with a few 
small pen notes by him on the rear endpaper, otherwise fine in dust 
wrapper. "Presents a fascinating but little known body of evidence which is 
vital for the understanding of Egyptian Religion of the Second Millenium 
BC. The popular worship of Hathor, the goddess of women and foreign places, 
has been neglected in favour of research on the official elite cults..." $75.00

60) PLUNKET, Emmeline M., ANCIENT CALENDARS AND CONSTELLATIONS. WITH 
ILLUSTRATIONS., London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, W. 1903. First 
edition. Octavo, nicely bound in full red morocco, raised bands and gilt 
titles on spine, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers. With 14 full-page 
plates and 10 additional folding plates at the rear, plus drawings within 
the text. An important work on the classification and formation of the 
ancient calendars and theirrelationship to Astronomical and astrological 
phenomenon in early civilization. Light cracking to hinges and binding 
rubbed along the spine joints (but holding tightly), some darkening to 
leather, a very good copy. $100.00

61) PROCLUS, Diadochus, DIVINE ARITHMATIC. A SUBJECT LONG SINCE FORGOTTEN. 
A TRANSLATION BY A.C. IONIDES. THE ELEMENTS OF THEOLOGY. BY PROCLUS (THE 
PLATONIST)., London: Published by the Translator at 34, Porchester Terrace. 
No Date [1910]. First edition. Large octavo, original green cloth titled in 
gilt and ruled in blind. 130 pp., Glossary. Added title page: THE ELEMENTS 
OF THEOLOGY / by Proclus (the Platonist). A few marginal marks, corners a 
trifle bumped; a near fine copy. Rare. There is also an edition from the 
same year bearing the imprint of John Lane, but this is the rare first 
edition. $500.00

62) STENRING, Knut [ & A.E. Waite] Rabbi Akiba Ben Joseph., THE BOOK OF 
FORMATION [SEPHIR YETZIRAH] BY RABBI AKIBA BEN JOSEPH. TRANSLATED FROM THE 
HEBREW, WITH ANNOTATIONS, BY KNUT STENRING. INCLUDING THE 32 PATHS OF 
WISDOM, THEIR CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE HEBREW ALPHABET AND THE TAROT 
SYMBOLS., London: William Rider & Son, Limited. 1923. First edition. Tall, 
thin octavo, original dark red cloth titled in black. This is a binding 
variant, presumably the second state - there is another issue in purple 
cloth titled and ruled in gilt. 66 pp, bibliography, tipped-in folding 
diagram. Lending library marks partially effaced from spine panel, title 
hand-written on spine (no other marks); "Quo-Vadis?" embossed in gilt at 
base of front panel. A very good copy, overall. The 'Sepher Yitzirah' is an 
important Kabbalistic text attributed to one or more Rabinnic authors in 
the early centuries of our era. It was first printed in Latin in 1522, ten 
years before the first Hebrew edition was printed. The first English 
translation was published in New York in 1877 and was followed by the 
translation of W. Wynn Westcott in 1887. A.E. Waite was shown Stenring's 
translation after it had been set up in print and found to be 
unsatisfactory by the publishers; he revised and corrected it extensively 
9'correcting his impossible English throughout....') although he is 
credited on the title only with the Introduction. Gilbert B37. $100.00

63) STEWART, Dr. Thomas Milton., THE SYMBOLISM OF THE GODS OF THE EGYPTIANS 
AND THE LIOGHT THEY THROW ON FREEMASONRY., London: The Baskerville Press. 
1927. First edition. Octavo, original brown cloth titled in black on spine 
& front panel. 126 pp, [9] pp ads at rear (chiefly for Masonic 
publications], Index, Illustrated. With 10 two-tone colour plates and 
several black & white drawings in the text. Cloth a trifle soiled and 
rubbed, very good. From the library of Charles Muses, with his signature on 
the front flyleaf, his notes on the rear endpapers and notes on a few 
leaves throughout. $75.00

64) TAYLOR, Isaac., HISTORY OF THE TRANSMISSION OF ANCIENT BOOKS TO MODERN 
TIMES; OR, A CONCISE ACCOUNT OF THE MEANS BY WHICH THE GENUINENESS AND 
AUTHENTICITY OF ANCIENT HISTORICAL WORKS ARE ASCERTAINED...., London: 
Printed for B.J. Holdsworth, 18, St. Paul's Church-Yard. 1827. First 
edition. Octavo, contemporary half-calf over marbled boards, the spine with 
raised bands and title label. A bibliographical study of the authenticity 
of ancient manuscripts and the rediscovery of ancient knowledge during the 
Renaissance. 258 pp, (1) page of ads (which is bound in near the front 
rather than at the rear). Rubbed and a bit worn but a clean copywith some 
light foxing, old heraldic bookplate on front paste-down and several other 
ownership marks. The complete title reads: HISTORY OF THE TRANSMISSION OF 
ANCIENT BOOKS TO MODERN TIMES; Or, A Concise Account of the Means by Which 
the Genuineness and Authenticity of Ancient Historical Works are 
Ascertained: With an Estimate of the Comparative Value of the Evidence 
Usually Adduced in Support of the Claims of the Jewish and Christian 
Scriptures. A very good copy, overall. $125.00

65) TAYLOR, Thomas [translator] Ocellus Lacanus; Taurus; Julius Firmicus 
Maternus; Proclus., OCELLUS LACANUS: ON THE NATURE OF THE UNIVERSE; TAURUS, 
THE PLATONIC PHILOSOPHER: ON THE ETERNITY OF THE WORLD; JULIUS FIRMICUS 
MATERNUS: OF THE THEMI MUNDI; PROCLUS: SELECT THEORUMS ON THE PERPETUITY OF 
TIME. TRANSLATED BY THOMAS TAYLOR., London: Printed for the Translator, and 
Sold by John Bohn, Henrietta-Street,; Henry Bohn, York-Street; and Thomas 
Rodd, Great Newport-Street. 1831. First edition. Octavo, contemporary half 
green morocco over marbled boards, the spine with raised bands and 
decorated gilt within compartments, gilt titles, marbled endpapers, top 
edges gilt. Contains: Ocellus Lucanus On the Nature of the Universe; 
Taurus, The Platonic Philosopher, On the Eternity of the World; Julius 
Firmicus Maternus of the Thema Mundi; In Which the Positions of the Stars 
at the Commencement of the Several Mundan Periods is Given; Select Theorems 
on the Perpeturity of Time, by Proclus. All are translated from the 
originals by Thomas Taylor. The introduction by Taylor states: "The tracts 
contained in this small volume will, I trust, be perused with considerable 
interest by every English reader who is a lover of ancient lore..." Ocellus 
Lucanus, a Pythagorean philosopher, was born in Lucania in the 5th century 
BC, and is thought to have been perhaps a pupil of Pythagoras himself. Some 
mild foxing to endleaves, binding with small stains and light general 
rubbing to hinges. From the library of Dr. Charles Muses, author of occult 
and esoteric works & founder of the Jacob Boehme society, with a few small 
notes on the rear endpaper by him in pen, and a few small marks by him to 
the text in pencil. A very good copy overall. $450.00

66) TAYLOR, Thomas [translator]., THE MYSTICAL INITIATIONS; OR, HYMNS OF 
ORPHEUS. TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL GREEK: WITH A PRELIMINARY 
DISSERTATION ON THE LIFE AND THEOLOGY OF ORPHEUS. [BOUND WITH] CONCERNING 
THE BEAUTIFUL, OR, A PARAPHRASED TRANSLATION FROM THE GREEK OF PLOTINUS., 
London: Printed for the author, and sold by T. Payne and Son.... 1787. 
First editions of both works.Octavo, contemporary plain calf, the spine 
with raised bands and titled in compartments. 227 pp + 47 pp, two works 
bound in one. The Orphic Hymns are a set of pre-classical poetic 
compositions, attributed to the hero Orpheus, himself the subject of a 
renowned myth. In reality, these poems were probably composed by several 
different poets. Reminiscent of the Rig-Veda, the Orphic Hymns contain a 
rich set of clues about prehistoric European mythology. In later editions 
these hymns are identified as being the Invocations which were used in the 
Eleusinian Mysteries. Thomas Taylor, a British neo-Platonist classicist, 
was considered a bit outside the pale by contemporary scholars, but was an 
influence on successive generations of occultists such as the Theosophists 
and the Golden Dawn. Two heraldic bookplates on front endpapers, Light 
general rubbing to leather and evidence of an early rebacking nicely done. 
 From the library of Dr. Charles Muses, author of occult and esoteric works 
& founder of the Jacob Boehme society, with his pencil notes on rear 
endpapers and the last two blank leaves; as well as underlining and 
scholarly marginalia in pencil by him on perhaps 20 pages throughout the 
volume. A nice copy, overall, of a very rare book. $850.00

67) TAYLOR, Thomas., THE MYSTICAL HYMNS OF ORPHEUS; TRANSLATED FROM THE 
GREEK, AND DEMONSTRATED TO BE ENVOCATIONS WHICH WERE USED IN THE ELEUSINIAN 
MYSTERIES. (THE MYSTICAL INITIATIONS; OR, HYMNS OF ORPHEUS)., London: 
Bertram Dobell & Reeves and Turner. 1896. "New Edition", i.e., the third 
edition. Octavo, original blue cloth titled in gilt on spine panel. 205 
pp., [2] pp. ads at rear. Originally published in 1787 as THE MYSTICAL 
INITIATIONS; OR, HYMNS OF ORPHEUS. A second, revised edition was issued in 
1824, this appears to be a reprint of that edition. Professionally rebacked 
in matching cloth at some date. From the library of Charles Muses, with his 
name stamp on the inner front cover and his notes in pencil on the rear 
endpapers and on a few leaves throughout the text. Old bookseller ticket 
from Samuel Weiser Books on endpaper. A very good copy. $125.00

68) TAYLOR, Thomas. Introduction by Manly Hall., THE THEORETIC ARITHMETIC 
OF THE PYTHAGOREANS. INTRODUCTORY ESSAY BY MANLY HALL., Los Angeles, CA: 
The Phoenix Press. 1934. First edition. Octavo, original blue clothtitled 
in gilt on spine. 248 pp., frontispiece portrait, charts. From the library 
of Charles Muses, with his signature on the front endpaper and his notes in 
pen on the rear endpapers and 2 final blanks, as well as underlining and 
notes by him throughout the text. Tape repair to inner rear hinge, old 
bookseller's ticket from Samuel Weiser books. Some bumps and minor soiling, 
a very good copy. $50.00

69) THOMPSON, R. Campbell., SEMITIC MAGIC. ITS ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT., 
London: Luzac & Co. 1908. First edition. Octavo, original red cloth, gilt 
titles. 286 pp., Appendix, Index. From the library of Charles Muses, with 
his annotations on a few leaves and notes on the rear endpaper. Book ticket 
of Samuel Weiser, bookseller. Spine panel slightly scuffed; a very good 
copy. $100.00

70) TORRENS, R.G., THE INNER TEACHINGS OF THE GOLDEN DAWN., London: Neville 
Spearman. [1969]. First edition. Octavo, original brown boards titled in 
gold on spine panel. 208 pp., frontispiece. Small bookstore ticket on front 
free endpaper, otherwise a fine bright copy in dust wrapper, price clipped. 
A sharp copy of a very uncommon book. $85.00

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Michael John Thompson
Member, Member, Antiquarian Booksellers Association of Canada
5275 Jerow Road
Hornby Island, BC
Canada V0R 1Z0
250-335-1182

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