THE 6th AND 7th BOOKS OF MOSES, OR MOSES' MAGICAL SPIRIT ART - KNOWN AS THE WONDERFUL ARTS OF THE OLD WISE HEBREWS, TAKEN FROM THE MOSAIC BOOKS OF THE CABALA AND THE TALMUD, FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND
Book Details + Condition: The de Laurence Company (Chicago, IL). Hardcover with publisher’s dark red-brown cloth boards, gilt title and decoration to spine and covers. 190 pages, with b&w illustrations. This scarce edition was published by Lauron William de Laurence (1868-1936), renowned book pirate, plagiarist, and publisher of occult literature. De Laurence played an important part in the occult history of the USA: he was a pioneer in selling occult books and supplies by mail order, and the books that he published were received with great fervor by many in the American occult community. Like many de Laurence publications this volume is undated. However, based on the style of the cloth and paper used, this was likely produced in the 1950s. Despite the text being of relatively recent origin - most scholars suggest it first began to appear in manuscript form in the 18th century - The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses is arguably one of the most influential of all the grimoires. It contains a series of magical incantations, spells and seals purportedly from the lost magical Books of the Biblical prophet Moses. The work apparently originated in Germany and then spread to America via the Pennsylvania Dutch, and their "pow-wow" books. It began to appear in print in the late nineteenth century, and became popular in the African American South and also in the Caribbean, and West Africa, making its mark on the Hoodoo, Rastafarian, and various African religious movements, as well as on European and American occultists.
A scarce edition in very good condition, with firm binding; light shelf wear to boards; interior is clean and free of markings, save occult bookstore stamp to ffep. All books are carefully packed, and shipped in boxes.
