THE FIRST COMBINED EDITION OF THE TWO VOLUMES AND IS ‘AUGMENTED’ WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS

Levi, Éliphas ~ Dogme Et Rituel de la Haute Magie (English: “Dogma and Ritual of High Magic”)

Germer Balliere, Libraire-Editeur, Paris : 1861 : Deuxième Edition Tres Augmentée Avec 24 Figures

The first combined edition of the two volumes which is ‘augmented’ with numerous engravings, published by Germer Balliere, Libraire-Editeur, Paris in 1861 (Deuxième Edition Tres Augmentée Avec 24 Figures). Text in French. This is Éliphas Lévi's first published treatise on ritual magic, which appeared in two volumes between 1854 (Dogme) and 1856 (Rituel). Each volume is structured into 22 chapters, which parallel the tarot. (Josephson-Storm, Jason : The Myth of Disenchantment: Magic, Modernity, and the Birth of the Human Sciences. Chicago: University of Chicago Press : 2017). 2 Vols. as issued. Early contemporary or possibly original bindings. Both BOOKS are complete and are in Very Good+ condition. Armorial bookplate of F.G. Irwin to both pastedowns. Obit. newspaper clipping for Éliphas Levi tipped to the front end-paper of Vol.1. Rubbing in places to the Morocco spines, more-so to the spine-ends. Morocco and gilt labels lightly rubbed. Corners rubbed. Free from inscriptions. The bindings remain tight with some early cracking of the front gutter in Vol.2. Some age related spotting and markings in places, more marked in Vol.2, but both copies remain very presentable. Some ink splodges to a handful of pages in vol. 2. Éliphas Lévi Zahed, born Alphonse Louis Constant (8 February 1810 – 31 May 1875), was a French esotericist, poet, and writer. Initially pursuing an ecclesiastical career in the Catholic Church, he abandoned the priesthood in his mid-twenties and became a ceremonial magician. At the age of 40, he began professing knowledge of the occult. He wrote over 20 books on magic, Kabbalah, alchemical studies, and occultism. The pen name "Éliphas Lévi" was an adaptation of his given names "Alphonse Louis" into Hebrew. Levi gained renown as an original thinker and writer, his works attracting attention in Paris and London among esotericists and artists of romantic or symbolist inspiration. He left the Grand Orient de France (the French Masonic organisation that originated Continental Freemasonry) in the belief that the original meanings of its symbols and rituals had been lost. F.G. Irwin (1828 -1892) was a British book collector, Freemason and hermeticist. This is the first issue of the combined edition of the two volumes and is ‘augmented’ with numerous engravings in and out of the text after drawings by Éliphas Levi. The first volume is entirely dedicated to dogmas, beginning with a detailed explanation of the initiates (those solemnly received into a corporation to become members), different doctrines based on science, the microcosm and macrocosm, Kabbalah, transmutations, black magic, astrology, etc. It concludes with an interesting and concise summary of the four occult sciences (Kabbalah, Magic, Alchemy, and Magnetism or Occult Medicine). The second volume contains numerous accounts and details about the rituals practiced in High Magic, conjurations, pentagrams, mediums, talismans, ceremonies, etc. “The most important work of the greatest modern occultist that contains the substance of countless volumes. It is impossible to be clearer and more concise at the same time. each sentence is posed as an axiom, offering a vast field of the meditation of the thinker’ (Caillet : Manuel bibliographique des sciences psychiques ou occultes). Scarce in such collectible condition with only 2 sets having appeared at auction in the last 40 years.

BINDINGS: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good+