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

[Michael John Thompson]

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

71) TRESSAN, L'Abbe De; translated by H. NORTH., A HISTORY OF THE HEATHEN 
MYTHOLOGY; OR, THE FABLES OF THE ANCIENTS ELUCIDATED FROM HISTORICAL 
RECORDS. AN IMPORTANT KEY TO THE CLASSICS. TO WHICH IS ADDED, AN ENQUIRY 
INTO THE RELIGION OF THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF GREAT BRITAIN & THE ANCIENT 
DRUIDS., London: Printed for B. Crosby and Co. 1806. Second Edition. 
Octavo, contemporary half leather over marbled paper boards, the spine with 
raised bands and titled gilt, marbled endpapers. 516 pp., 75 engravings 
(comprising small vignettes on 8 plates). A very important early work on 
classic Greek mythology, with supplementary section "A Particular Account 
of the Ancient Druids". The first English edition was titled MYTHOLOGY 
COMPARED WITH HISTORY. This second edition was revised & enlarged, & is 
also the first Illustrated edition. Heraldic bookplate on inner front 
cover; leather worn at edges and front hinge with a partial split at base; 
a very good copy. $175.00

72) VESME, Caesar de., A HISTORY OF EXPERIMENTAL SPIRITUALISM. [IN TWO 
VOLUMES] VOLUME I: PRIMITIVE MAN. VOLUME II: PEOPLES OF ANTIQUITY., London: 
Rder and Co. [1931]. First editions. Two volumes, octavo, original gray 
cloth titled and ruled in black. Supernormal Phenomena / Telepathic Messges 
/ Lycanthropy / Divination / Magical Charms / Witchcraft / Spells of the 
Sorcerers / Necromancy / Clairvoyance / Narcotic Drugs / Healing and 
Shamanism / Sorcery / Talismans / Natural and Sympathetic Magic / Egyptian 
Magic and Religion / The Witch of Endor / Pagan Demonology / The Chaldeans, 
The Persians , The Phoenicians, The Etruscans, The Celts, The Aztecs and 
Incas, The Romans / The Oracle of Delphi / Theurgy and Goety / The 
Philosophies of Socrates. From the Library of Charles Muses, with his name 
in ink on the front endpapers of both volumes and with his notes in pen to 
a few pages and his notes in ink on the rear endpapers. Old bookseller's 
ticket of Samuel Weiser Books. A very good set. $75.00

73) WAITE, Arthur Edward., THE MAGICAL WRITINGS OF THOMAS VAUGHAN (EUGENIUS 
PHILALETHES). A VERBATIM REPRINT OF HIS FIRST FOUR TREATISES: 
ANTHROPOSOPHIA THEOMAGICA, ANIMA MAGICA ABSCONDITA, MAGIA ADAMICA, AND THE 
TRUE COELUM TERRAE. WITH THE LATIN PASSAGES TRANSLATED INTO ENGLIS, London: 
George Redway, 1888. First edition. Octavo, original white cloth titled in 
red - the first issue binding. 164pp. Ownership signature of Charles Muses 
on front endpaper, with his notes and annotations on the endpapers and in 
the text. A few leaves stained by old scotch tape repairs. A very good copy 
of a very scarce book. Gilbert B4. Full title: THE MAGICAL WRITINGS OF 
THOMAS VAUGHAN (Eugenius Philalethes). A Verbatim Reprint of His First Four 
Treatises: Anthroposophia Theomagica, Anima Magica Abscondita, Magia 
Adamica, and the True Coelum Terrae. With the Latin Passages Translated 
into English, and with a Biographical Preface and Essay on the Esoteric 
Literature of Western Christendom. $225.00

74) WAITE, Arthur Edward., THE SECRET DOCTRINE IN ISRAEL. A STUDY OF THE 
ZOHAR AND ITS CONNECTIONS. WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS., London: William Rider 
& Son, 1913. First edition. Octavo, original blue cloth, titles 
blind-stamped on cover with gilt image of altar and cherubs, gilt. 330 pp. 
[6] pp publisher's catalogue at rear. 4 plates (incl. frontis.). Spine 
faded, and slightly cracked at head and tail, having been repaired some 
time ago. From the library of Charles Muses, with his notes on separate 
sheets loosely inserted. About very good. Gilbert A27. $175.00

75) WAITE, Arthur Edward., LIVES OF ALCHEMYSTICAL PHILOSOPHERS BASED ON 
MATERIALS COLLECTED IN 1815 AND SUPPLEMENTED BY RECENT RESEARCHES. WITH A 
PHILOSOPHICAL DEMONSTRATION OF THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF THE MAGNUM OPUS OR 
GREAT WORK OF ALCHEMICAL RE-CONSTRUCTION AND SOME ACCOUNT..., London: 
George Redway, 1888. First edition. Octavo, original brown cloth over 
beveled boards, gilt. 315 pp, [40] pp publisher's catalogue at rear. A few 
pages roughly opened. From the library of Charles Muses, with his 
annotations on a few leaves and notes on the rear endpaper. Near fine. 
Gilbert B3. Full title: Lives of Alchemystical Philosophers Based on 
Materials Collected in 1815 and Supplemented by Recent Researches. With a 
Philosophical Demonstration of the True Principles of the Magnum Opus or 
Great Work of Alchemical Re-Construction and Some Account of Spiritual 
Chemistry. $250.00

76) WAITE, Arthur Edward., THE QUEST OF THE GOLDEN STAIRS. A MYSTERY OF 
KINGHOOD IN FAERIE., London: Theosophical Publishing House, 1927. First 
edition. Small quarto, original orange cloth. 176 pp. Fantasy novel by this 
noted occultist, "a revision and combination of PRINCE STARBEAM and THE 
GOLDEN STAIRS, but whereas they are typical Victorian literary fairy-tales, 
THE QUEST... is a monstrous hybrid combining their worst features with a 
pale mysticism buried deep beneath a dense mass of verbiage." - Gilbert. 
 From the library of Charles Muses. Fine in a very good d/j. Gilbert A40. 
$125.00

77) WAITE, Arthur Edward., THE HOLY GRAIL. ITS LEGENDS AND SYMBOLISM. AN 
EXPLANATORY SURVEY OF THEIR EMBODIMENT IN ROMANCE LITERATURE AND A CRITICAL 
STUDY OF THE INTERPRETATIONS PLACED THERON., London: Rider and Co., 1933. 
First edition. Octavo, original purple cloth gilt. 624 pp, Appendixes, 
Bibliography. Spine and board edges slightly faded. Essentially an expanded 
and re-written version of his earlier work THE HIDDEN CHURCH OF THE HOLY 
GRAIL (1909). From the library of Charles Muses, with his annotations on a 
few leaves and notes on the rear endpapers. Very good. Gilbert A42. $125.00

78) WALKER, Joseph C., HISTORICAL MEMOIRS OF THE IRISH BARDS; AN HISTORICAL 
ESSAY ON THE DRESS OF THE ANCIENT AND MODERN IRISH; AND A MEMOIRS ON THE 
ARMOUR AND WEAPONS OF THE IRISH. IN TWO VOLUMES: VOLUME II ONLY., Dublin: 
J. Christie. 1818. Second Edition. Octavo, modern green cloth, gilt. (x) + 
439 pp, 13 plates (only 12 are called for). This copy bears the plates 
within the text of An Irish Chief, An Irish Druid, An Irish King, 2 plates 
of Irish Warriors and one plate of Antique Relics; as well, the 5 plates 
depicting Irish costumes and weapons are bound in at the rear, as called 
for. In addition, there is a plate title "Ornaments", depicting several 
Irish pins, bound in at page (5). Scattered light foxing, plates clean, 
contemporary ownership name on title leaf; a very good copy. Volume Two 
only. $125.00

79) WALTON, Christoper. William Law, Jacob Bohme [Boehme], Dio A. Freher, 
J.G. Gichtel, Francis Lee ., NOTES AND MATERIAL FOR AN ADEQUATE BIOGRAPHY 
OF THE CELEBRATED DIVINE AND THEOSOPHER WILLIAM LAW, COMPRISING AN 
ELUCIDATION OF THE SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE WRITINGS OF JACOB BOHME AND OF 
HIS GREAT COMMENTATOR DIONYSIUS ANDREAS FREHER; WITH A NOTICE..., London: 
Printed for Private Circulation. 1854. First edition. 500 copies printed. 
Octavo, original brown cloth patterned in blind and titled in gilt. 688 pp, 
large folding plate. With a curious inscription on the verso of the title 
page which reads "Work of Reference / Presented to the Library of Corpus 
Christi College, cambridge, by Christ Walton, London, 1861. With the Corpus 
Christi College bookplate on the front paste-down, stamped "Cancelled". 
Formerly from the library of Charles Muses, with his handwritten notes on 
the recto of the rear free endpaper and a note by him on the front free 
endpaper which reads: "This extremely rare and valuable volume had not only 
been discarded by Univ. of Cambridge, but not even opened (all leaves uncut 
when rec'd) during the century it had been there. Purchased from a rare 
book dealer in N.Y.C., Nov, 1955. CA Muses" The front panel bears the title 
ELUCIDATION OF THE SUBLIME GENIUS AND THEOSOPHIAN MISSION OF WILLIAM LAW 
1856 (?) and the rear cover is titled CYCLOPEDIA OF PURE CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY 
AND THEOSOPHICAL SCIENCE WITH THEIR EXPERIMENTAL DISCOVERIES 1856. Spine 
title is MEMORIAL OF WILLIAM LAW / Jacob Bohme, Dio A. Freher, J.G. 
Gichtel, Francis Lee and Other Theosophers. Full title on title page reads: 
NOTES AND MATERIAL FOR AN ADEQUATE BIOGRAPHY OF THE CELEBRATED DIVINE AND 
THEOSOPHER WILLIAM LAW, Comprising an Elucidation of the Scope and Contents 
of the Writings of Jacob Bohme and of His Great Commentator Dionysius 
Andreas Freher; with a Notice of the Mystical Divinity and Most Curious and 
Solid Science of All Ages of the World. Also an Indication of the True 
Means for the Induction of the Intellectual "Heathen", Jewish, and 
Mahomedan Nations into the Christian Faith. The cloth is glazed, and there 
are three small library tags on the spine panel, front & rear inner hinges 
neatly re-glued; a very good copy. Rare. $500.00

80) WARREN, William F., S.T.D., LL. D., PARADISE FOUND. THE CRADLE OF THE 
HUMAN RACE AT THE NORTH POLE. A STUDY OF THE PREHISTORIC WORLD. WITH 
ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS., Boston: Houghton Mifflin And Company. 1885. First 
edition. Octavo, original green cloth titled in gilt on spine panel. 505 
pp., Index, Illustrations. A study of Ancient Cosmology and Mythical 
Geography. Corners a trifle bumped, small erasure from front flyleaf, 
slight rubbin to spine. A bright, clean copy. $100.00

81) WESTCOTT, W. Wynn [editor]. EVERARD, Doctor. HERMES MERCURIUS 
TRISMEGESTUS., COLLECTANEA HERMETICA VOLUME II: THE PYMANDER OF HERMES. 
EDITED BY W. WYNN WESTCOTT. WITH A PREFACE BY THE EDITOR, [THE DIVINE 
PYMANDER OF HERMES MERCURIS TRISMEGESTUS], London: Theosophical Publishing 
Society, 1894. First printing of this edition. Small octavo, original blue 
cloth titled in gilt. 117 pp. Contains the English translation of Dr. 
Everard, 1650, of seventeen tracts (of which the Pymander is one) 
attributed to Hermes Trismegistos, otherwise Mercurius Termazimus, or in 
the Egyptian llanguage, Thoth, or Taautes or Tat. W. Wynn Westcott 
(1848-1925) was one of the original founders (along with S. L. Magregor 
Mathers) of The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1887, This little 
volume is issued as Volume II of Collectanea Hermetica, published by the 
Theosophical Society with Westcott as editor in his role as Supreme Magus 
of the Rosicrucian Society, but the series was in fact formed and published 
as part of the outer work of the Golden Dawn. This copy was previously 
owned by Dr. Charles Muses, author of esoteric works and founder of the 
Jacob Boehme society, and is *heavily* annotated by him throughout, with 
his early ownership sticker on the front endpaper and his signature on an 
early leaf. Most of Muses' annotations are corrections and annotations to 
the text, for example, he corrects the title leaf which states that the 
work was "Translated out of the Arabic into Greek, and thence into Latin, 
and Dutch, and now out of the Original into English" with the note that it 
is incorrect, Everard translated into the English from Patrizzi's Latin 
versons of 1591 and 1593.Extensive tape re-inforcenment to the interior 
leaves, and heavy annotations by Muses in ink, otherwise a very good copy, 
still quite bright. $150.00

82) WESTCOTT, W. Wynn [editor]. S.S.D.D. i.e., V.H. Sor. Sapientia Sapienti 
Dona Data [Florence Farr], COLLECTANEA HERMETICA VOLUME VIII. EGYPTIAN 
MAGIC. BY S.S.D.D., London: Theosopical Publishing Society. 1896. First 
edition. Small octavo, original blue cloth titled in gilt. 88 pp., which 
includes the 3-page LIST OF BOOKS FOR REFERENCE, books obtainable through 
the Theosophical Publishing Society. A very scarce work on Egyptian Magic 
by Francis Farr, here published under the "pseudonym" S.S.D.D.(Soror 
Sapientia Sapienti Dona Data), her Golden Dawn Motto. W. Wynn Westcott 
(1848-1925) was one of the original founders (along with S. L. Magregor 
Mathers) of The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1887, This little 
volume is issued as Volume VIII of Collectanea Hermetica, published by the 
Theosophical Society with Westcott as editor in his role as Supreme Magus 
of the Rosicrucian Society, but the series was in fact formed and published 
as part of the outer work of the Golden Dawn. A few illustrations in the 
text. This copy was previously owned by Dr. Charles Muses, author of 
esoteric works and founder of the Jacob Boehme society, but is curiously 
not signed or annotated by him - Muses usually wrote extensively in his 
books, filling the margins with scholarly annotations and reference notes. 
There is a previous owner's signature in pencil at the head of the title 
page. Some creasing to the boards, but overall a clean, very good copy. $125.00

83) WESTCOTT, W. Wynn., COLLECTANEA HERMETICA VOL IX. NUMBERS. THEIR OCCULT 
POWERS AND MYSTICAL VIRTUES. BY W. WYNN WESTCOTT, S. MAGUS SOC. ROSAE 
CRUCIS IN ANGLIA., London and Benares: Theosophical Publishing Society. 
1902. Second and Enlarged Edition. Small octavo, original blue cloth titled 
in gilt. 120.pp. Contains both the original Preface and the new Preafce to 
the Second Edition, both by Westcott. W. Wynn Westcott (1848-1925) was one 
of the original founders (along with S. L. Magregor Mathers) of The 
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1887. This volume is issued as Volume 
IX of Collectanea Hermetica, published by the Theosophical Society with 
Westcott as editor in his role as Supreme Magus of the Rosicrucian Society, 
but the series was in fact formed and published as part of the outer work 
of the Golden Dawn. This copy was previously owned by Dr. Charles Muses, 
author of esoteric works and founder of the Jacob Boehme society, and has 
his signature on the verso of the front free endpaper, as well as pencil 
notes by him on the recto of the rear free endpaper and a few pencil marks 
in the text, A few small scuffs to the cloth, overall a very good, clean 
copy. $95.00

84) WHISHAW, E.M., ATLANTIS IN ANDALUCIA. A STUDY OF FOLK MEMORY. PROFUSELY 
ILLUSTRATED., London: Rider & Co. No Date [1929]. First edition. Octavo, 
original black cloth titled in gilt on spine panel. Frontiospiece, text 
plates & drawings. 284 pp. Study of the Pre-History of the Spanish province 
of Andalucia and it's possible links to Atlantis. Rear endpaper laid down 
and inner front hinge re-glued, some foxing, old booksellers ticket from 
Samuel Weiser Books. From the library of Charles Muses with his handwritten 
notes at the rear and marks by him to the text. Corners a bit bumped. Very 
good copy. $75.00

85) WILLIAMS, The Rev. Robert, M.A., LEXICON CORNU-BRITANNICUM: A 
DICTIONARY OF THE ANCIENT CELTIC LANGUAGE OF CORNWALL, IN WHICH THE WORDS 
ARE ELUCIDATED BY COPIEUS EXAMPLES FROM THE CORNISH WORKS NOW REMAINING; 
WITH TRANSLATIONS IN ENGLISH., Llandovery: Roderick & London: Trubner & Co. 
1865. First edition of this rare and important Celtic Dictionary, whoich 
also gives the Synonyms in the dialects of Welsh, Armoric, Irish, Gaelic 
and Manx. Quarto, original green cloth boards decorated in blind, spine 
panel titled in gilt. 400 pp., complete, list of subscribers at rear. Cloth 
worn and cracked, glazed at some point in the past, marks on rear panel 
from lying next to an adjacent book for many years; front hinge badly 
cracked and wanting the free endpaper, title leaf almost loose and with a 
spot of tape repair. Marginalia throughout in an old hand, and mmuch more 
modern notes in pen on the rear endpaper. Generally, a bit of a mess, but 
it is in the original binding, and it is a very rare book. $200.00

86) WILSON, H. H. Hall, Fitzedward (editor), THE VISHNU PURANA, A SYSTEM OF 
HINDU MYTHOLOGY AND TRADITION TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SANSKRIT AND 
ILLUSTRATED BY NOTES DERIVED CHIEFLY FROM OTHER PURANAS., London: Trubner & 
Co. 1864. Reprint. Octavo, original brick cloth titled and decorated with 
an image of Ganesh on the front panel in gold. Five volumes (of six, lacks 
Volume 5 Pt 2 - the Index volume). The text is complete here. Originally 
issued in one volume in 1840. Issued as Vols 6-10 of the collected works of 
Wilson. Variously paginated. Spines a bit faded, light wear to cloth at 
spine edges, slight mottling of covers. A very good set. From the library 
of Charles Muses, with a few handwritten notes by him on the rear 
endpapers. $250.00

87) WILSON, The Rev. William, M.A. [translator]. BLAVATSKY, Helena 
Petrovna., THE WRITINGS OF CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. [ANTI-NICENE CHRISTIAN 
LIBRARY: TRANSLATIONS OF THE WRITINGS OF THE FATHERS DOWN TO A.D. 325. 
EDITED BY REV ALEXANDER ROBERTS AND JAMES DONALDSON.], Edinburgh: T. and T. 
Clark. 1867. First edition. Octavo, two volumes, original brown cloth 
decorated in blind and gold, titled in gold on spine. 470 pp, [22] pp .ads; 
542 pp, [6] pp. ads. Issued as Volumes IV & XII in the publisher's 
Ante-Nicene Christian Library series. Foremerly, the copies from the 
Theosophical Society Headquarters Library at 70 Queen's Gate, London, with 
the their lending library labels on the front endpapersand with labels 
removed from the base of the spines. With the initials "H.P.B. Reg No. 40" 
and "H.P.B. Reg No. 41" in red pen on the title leaves of each volume, 
respectively. One assumes that these are the intitals of Helena Petrovna 
Blavatsky, but their are stylistic differences between the initials and the 
few specimens of Blavatsky's signatures which we have seen, so one cannot 
be sure. The writing rather closely resembles that of Koot Hoomi Lal Singh, 
author of THE MAHATMA PAPERS and one of the founders of the Theosophical 
Society. Hinges cracked, light wear to edges of bindings, a very good set. 
These volumes came recently from the library of Charles Muses, and have his 
brief notes on the rear endpapers and a few marks by him to the text. $450.00

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

http://www.ThompsonRareBooks.com
http://www.mjtbooks.com
http://www.BeltaneBooks.com (forthcoming)

Stay calm: be brave: wait for the signs.