Occult Books Currently For Sale...
The History of Magic By, Kurt Selligmann ~ $175.00
A classic in the field written by the renowned surrealist painter, Kurt Seligmann. The work of the artist Kurt Seligmann (1900-1962) has long been recognized as among the most distinctively idiosyncratic contributions to the art of Surrealism, a pan-cultural movement known for its collective individualism. His imagery, expressed in paintings in various media, drawings, and prints over a period of four decades and in several hundred works, is so unusual that it continues to fascinate long after we have become familiar with its special "vocabulary". A characteristic Seligmann painting depicts a kind of occult dance macabre in which anthropomorphic figures - comprised of an amalgamation of armour, heraldic devices, ribbons, cloth, helmets, feathers, bone and ceremonial paraphernalia - cavort in unknown rituals in darkly cavernous, yet undetermined, space.
Crystallizing the most significant and interesting aspects of magic since antiquity, the author delves into the works of hundreds of scholars and specialists, presenting a vivid picture of the most typical religio-magical beliefs of ancient, medieval, and modern times. Beginning with the propitiatory rites of Mesopotamian magic, the growth and development of the magical world-view is shown in its successive stages, assimilating Hebrew thought, Greek philosophy, and Christian theology. We see how the magical idea of a unified universe finds expression in pictorial motifs and symbols, in the magical arts of astrology, divination, physiognomy, chiromancy, fortune cards and other branches of the "occult sciences." We learn about the mystery of stars and numbers, the Sphinx, the philosopher's stone, witchcraft and black magic, the Cabala, the Tarot and vampires. And on the way we meet some of the most colorful, unique and altogether intriguing personalities in history: Paracelusus, Nostradamus, Dr. Faustus, Pico Mirandola, Trithemius, Agrippa, Gebelin, Rosencreutz, Andreae, Mesmer, Cagliostro Saint-Germain, and many other legendary mystics. A fascinating and thorough study. From the demons of Mesopotamia to those plaguing our own late-20th-century civilization, this comprehensive primer covers every aspect of magic and the occult since earliest recorded time. Spanning 5,000 years of world history it covers every major civilization and Much More.
The Incredible Chapters Include: “Mesopotamia; The Forgetful Gods, Divinatory Arts, The Mystery of Stars and Numbers, The Tower of Babel”, “Persia; Zoroaster, Magic about Hair and Nails, Casting Out the Fly Demon”, “The Hebrews; Jehovah’s Warriors, Magic in Holy Writ”, “Egypt; The Sphinx, Mortuary Magic, Journey to the Underworld, The Word, Isis”, “Greece; Magic in Philosophical Garb, Dreams Ghosts and Heroes, Omens, Oracles, Astrology, The Mystery of Eleusis”, “Gnosticism; The Way to Blessedness, The Gnostic Sects”, “The Roman Empire; Magic Under the Roman Emperors, Neo-Platonism, Julian the Apostate, The Ruin of Pagan Magic”, “Alchemy; Origins of Alchemy, Hermes Trismegistus, Hermetica, The Principals of Alchemy and the Philosophers Stone, Vas Insigne Electionis, Hermetic Enigmas, The Alkahest, Early Attacks on Alchemy, Famous Transmutations, The Inheritance of the Accursed”, “The Middle Ages; Magical Miscellany in Pre-Arabic Times, The Arabs, Magicians of the Middle Ages, Albertus Magnus, Roger Bacon”, “The Devil; The Principal of Evil, Infernal Helpers, Unholy Images”, “Witchcraft; Possessions, The Sabbath, The Devil’s Share, The Witch, The Pursuit of an Ideal, The Witch Controversy in English Literature”, “Diabolic Rites; Black Magic”, “Portraits; The Magus, Pico Della Mirandola, Trithemius, Agrippa Von Nettesheim, Paracelsus, Nastradamus, Guillaume Postel, Giambattista Della Porta”, “Cabala; Christian Cabalists and the Jews, Secrets of the Bible, Magic of Letters, The Book Yetzirah”, “Magical Arts; The Wonder Cave, Astrology, Divination by Moles, Metoposcopy, Physiognomy, Chiromancy, The Tarot, Tarot Pips and Trumps, The Juggler”, “Reformers; The Rosicrucians, Valentine Andreae, Secret Societies, The Classical Ideal”, “The Eighteenth Century; Revolt Against Reason, Vampires, Magic Unveiled, Masonic Lodges, and The Count of Saint Germain”.
Book Description: Pantheon Books, New York, 1948 Edition, Very Good+. Black Boards with Gold Gilt Lettering to the Spine with Embossed Magical Sigil on Front Board. 483pp. + notes + bibliographic resume + index for a total of 504pp. Very nice copy, binding firm, Highly Illustrated Overview of the History of Magic Containing 255 Rare and Interesting Illustrations, with themes from many traditions objectively described. The crown of the spine has a very small tear, and on the inside front board evidence of a removed bookplate, but quite nice regardless. There are no markings or underlining in or on text, the binding is clean and tight with no loose pages. This is truly a Beautiful and Rare Edition covering Many Magical Subjects- A Beautiful Addition to Any Occult Library ~ Please Contact Me To Purchase ~
