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Correspondence from Karl Germer to Philip Kaplan
West Point, Calif. Box 173
April 16, 1960.
Dear Philip:
Since my last of Feb. 20 I have not heard from you. First: I trust your wife's and yours are allright.
What news about your publisher friend who was interested in re-printing some Crowley material?—About Liber Aleph, and Aries Press, I had reason to suspect queer motives so did not press to hard. My suspicion proved right, so this matter was dropped.
There is now this new edition of Magick in Theory and Practice of which you will have heard. It is what is called a pirated edition. I heard first from Weiser's catalogue, wrote Weiser who said they had nothing to do with it, referred me to "Book Sales, Inc., New York, 352 - 4th Ave. I wrote them, asked for an explanation and received for an answer a letter's firm of lawyers, Goldberg & Hatterer, 521 Fifth ave., demanding proof of my rights to Crowley's works, which I did not answer, so far.
I wanted first to see an actual book and got one yesterday. It is a decent looking production, and exact photo reproduction, from the original. The publisher is given as
Castle Books, 352 Park Avenue, South New York 10, N.Y.
I am writing this, first as it might interest you. Second, to hear your opinion. Quite personally, I was quite happy about this reprint, as it shows that Crowley is not forgotten, and in demand. The book was never copyrighted, so I cannot see how I can have a claim, legally.
Have you any way of finding out who this Castle Books outfit is? I would not put beyond Weiser to have a hand in it. (Some years ago I learnt that they planned to pirate "777", until I told them that it was planned to make an extended edition.)
I greatly appreciate your advice in matters of this type. My problem is: if I cannot take legal action, how could I turn the reprinting to some advantage for the Work? I can tell them that if they had consulted me, I would have suggested some improvements, corrections, and additions which A.C. had foreseen in the copy he left for the purpose. This would not carry weight, as it would have increased the cost of production. If, however, they happen to be a fair-sized company, I might be able to use my letter as a wedge to interest them in some other program.
Please let me know if you have any ideas. For the present I am still in a sort of magical retirement and too far from the firing line.
All best wishes,
Karl.
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