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SALE CATALOG FROM THE AUCTION OF THE JOHN QUINN COLLECTION
John Quinn purchased a number of first editions and bound manuscripts from Aleister Crowley in November 1914 during Crowley’s visit to America. This purchase formed the basis of the Crowley books contained in the John Quinn collection.
The Aleister Crowley books in the collection were sold the afternoon of November 14, 1923 through Anderson Galleries, New York.
A NOTE BY JOHN QUINN I have been asked to state what determined me to sell my library and also to write about the books and manuscripts. I am willing to comply with the first request, but as to the second the books and manuscripts must speak for themselves. I had no intention of selling my library until I was suddenly met with the necessity of moving from my large old-fashioned apartment with large rooms and plenty of wall space. The choice was forced upon me either of taking a very large house, which I did not care to do, or of storing my books. Then I came to feel that once they had been stored they would remain stored indefinitely, perhaps for years. That led me to the determination to sell them. The agreement was ‘all of nothing,’ an agreement which has been faithfully adhered to, though parting with certain personal items gave me many a pang.
The books and manuscripts must speak for themselves. Voltaire said of Vauvenargues that he had ‘preferences, but no exclusions.’ I might say that while I have had many preferences, I have also had exclusions. But the hatreds and the bores were long ago cast out, or rather never secured a place on my shelves. The catalogue is a reflection of a widely interested intellectual life. Many of the books are records of friendships that have enriched my life. The list is too long even to refer to them here. It is a record in part of the admirations, the enthusiasms and affections of a lifetime.
Most of the books were secured by me as they were issued or published and that accounts for their good condition. If I attempted to tell all that the books and manuscripts have meant to me, it would require a small volume. Gems of art, moving one still by their old music, age has not withered them nor can custom stale their infinite variety. I think it was Byron who said that when a farewell is to be final it should be brief. I cannot go through or attempt to write about or to tell what these books and manuscripts, which contain a world of beauty and romance or enshrine the records of friendships and of interests and enthusiasms, have meant to me, for they seem to me to be a part of myself, even though I may smile a little at my own feeling.
J.Q.
ALEISTER CROWLEY One of the strangest abnormalities among the modern religious revivalists of mysticism and mystical teaching. Born of a highly respectable family, the father of which was a member of the Plymouth Brethren, he was educated at Cambridge and attained distinction there as a classical scholar. After he left the University, he engaged in literature, and privately printed a number of volumes of poetry of an unusually high quality of insight and expression. He had given himself up to the study of the arcana of knowledge and had steeped himself in the lore of magic and astrology, in the Kruptadia of the Eleusinian and Orphic mysteries, and in the secret expositions of Buddhistic rites and ceremonies. He posed as an ‘adept,’ and conducted a church in London, in which he held the services and taught the doctrines of a religion he had elaborated out of his studies. He contemplated the building of a magnificent temple to be dedicated to this religion, and he would, probably, have succeeded in carrying out his plans, had not his conduct as High Priest of his church brought him into conflict with the authorities, so that his church was closed. He then turned again to literature, and privately printed a magazine, The Equinox, which he issued to subscribers at a high price, of a curiously interesting nature, and now very rare. The war brought him to America, where he attempted to revive interest in his church and to further the building of his temple. He gave lectures and held services and sought in various ways to obtain followers and arouse enthusiasm. He claimed to have obtained his secret knowledge from the Grand Llama of Tibet, during a personal interview. As a writer he is in a class by himself, for his subject matters deal mainly with the mysteries and symbolisms of the early expressions of religions, and more particularly with those expressions which took the forms of Phallicism and Orphicism. Curious stories are told about the retreat which he established in Italy for himself and his special devotees.]
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 hand-made 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 Shareff. 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 Tale 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 Appeal to the American Republic. 4to, wrappers, uncut. First Edition. London, 1899
2161 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 Saeulare. 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 Shareff. 4to, wrappers, uncut. London, 1903 First Edition. One of 150 copies on hand-made 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 hand-made 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 & 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. Inverness, 1905 First Edition. One of 500 copies.
2181 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. Inverness, 1905 First Edition.
2184 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. Foyers, 1906 First Edition.
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 hand-made 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 hand-made 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. London,1907 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 [Rodin in Rime]. 4to, cloth, uncut (tear in one leaf). London: Printed for the Author at the Chiswick Press, 1907 First Edition. One of 488 copies on hand-made paper.
2191 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.
2193 The Mother's Tragedy and Other Poems. 8vo, cloth, uncut. Inverness, 1907
2194 Tannhaüser. A Story of All Time. 4to, cloth, uncut. Inverness, 1907 First Edition.
2195 Amphora. 12mo, cloth, gilt top, uncut. London, 1908 First Edition.
2196 Alexandra. A Birthday Ode. 8vo, wrappers, uncut. Shanghai, 1909 First Edition.
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 explicandse fundamentum Hieroglyphicum Sanctissimorum scientist 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. London, 1909-13 Rare.
2200 Ambergris. A Selection from the Poems of Aleister Crowley. Portrait. 12mo, boards, uncut. London, 1910 First Edition.
2201 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: Privately Printed, 1910 First Edition.
2201 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 fly-leaf 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 Memorium - John Yarker. 4to, wrappers. N.p., [1912] First Edition.
2208 Mortadello; or, the Angel of Venice. A Comedy. 4to, white cloth, gilt top, uncut. London, 1912 First Edition.
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.
2210 Art 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
2211 Chicago 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 a 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 autograph 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. |