The Winged Beetle.
by CROWLEY, Aleister
- Used
- Hardcover
- Signed
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Privately printed,, 1910. An extensive poetic inscription First edition, number 113 of 350 copies of this notably uncommon collection of Crowley's poems. This is a presentation copy, inscribed by Crowley with three original limericks, signed and dated "Aleister Crowley Sunday Aug 19 '22 e.v.". Each of the five-line limericks were composed for the three children of the journalist Austin Harrison: Monica, Rene, and Josephine. Harrison (1873-1928) was editor at the English Review and, in 1922, "took on Crowley as a regular - and prolific- contributor through the summer. Harrison paid Crowley little but allowed him considerable creative freedom" (Sutin, p. 298). Crowley contributed essays under a variety of pseudonyms and on topics ranging from newly established drug laws to the centenary of Percy Bysshe Shelley's death. Harrison's respect for Crowley's prose was matched by Crowley's uncommon appreciation of his own work; in Crowley's Confessions he describes Harrison's writing as "always amazing and sometimes first-rate" (Symonds & Grant, p. 892). The limericks pick out traits of each of the children and suggest an intimacy between Crowley and the Harrison family: for Monica "a sneezing young lady" Crowley recommends a tonic; Rene is described as "a bright Spirit... born so tremendously brainy", and Josephine is gently mocked for her fast talking - "'Now really, that's awfully mean!'". The Winged Beetle collects poems that are largely more esoteric in nature, and includes those dedicated to fellow occultists, such as J. F. C. Fuller, Victor Neuburg, and Austin Osman Spare. Crowleys's satirical poem "The Convert" on page 102 provides his indication of the pronunciation of his surname, there rhyming "holy" with "Crowley". Octavo. Original brown boards, spine and front cover lettered in gilt, scarab design in gilt on front cover, top edge gilt, others uncut. With the "Glossary of Obscure Terms" as called for. Spine faded, a couple of nicks to board edges, offsetting to endpapers, scattered faint foxing; a near-fine copy. Yorke 33. Lawrence Sutin, Do What Thou Wilt: A Life of Aleister Crowley, 2014; John Symonds & Kenneth Grant, eds, The Confessions of Aleister Crowley, 1971
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Details
- Bookseller
- Peter Harrington (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 151674
- Title
- The Winged Beetle.
- Author
- CROWLEY, Aleister
- Book Condition
- Used
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Place of Publication
- London: Privately printed,
- Date Published
- 1910
Terms of Sale
Peter Harrington
All major credit cards are accepted. Both UK pounds and US dollars (exchange rate to be agreed) accepted. Books may be returned within 14 days of receipt for any reason, please notify first of returned goods.
About the Seller
Peter Harrington
Biblio member since 2006
London
About Peter Harrington
Since its establishment, Peter Harrington has specialised in sourcing, selling and buying the finest quality original first editions, signed, rare and antiquarian books, fine bindings and library sets. Peter Harrington first began selling rare books from the Chelsea Antiques Market on London's King's Road. For the past twenty years the business has been run by Pom Harrington, Peter's son.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Top Edge Gilt
- Top edge gilt refers to the practice of applying gold or a gold-like finish to the top of the text block (the edges the pages...
- Inscribed
- When a book is described as being inscribed, it indicates that a short note written by the author or a previous owner has been...
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...