Details + Condition: Original hand-colored occult engraving from the 1825 first edition thus, of THE ASTROLOGER OF THE 19th CENTURY by Raphael (pseudonym for Robert Cross Smith). Scarce. This plate is the original frontispiece to the book, titled "Magic Ceremonies", and depicts Edward Kelly summoning demonic and other worldly entities through a magickal conjuring ceremony. Measures: 5.25" x 8.75". Please see our other listings for additional occult engravings from the same book. Uneven cut to left side, with tears present to right edge (as it was removed from the book); age spotting and toning present.
Robert Cross Smith (1795-1832) was an astrologer, magician, and geomancer. Smith founded the periodical, The Straggling Astrologer in 1824, but failed to receive enough subscribers and the periodical had to be discontinued after a few issues. He collected the issues of the failed periodical in a volume entitled The Astrologer Of The Nineteenth Century in the same year. These writings dealt with topics as varied as alchemy, charms, the virtues of herbs and stones, invoking spirits into crystals, evoking demons, evoking spirits into circles, necromancy, geomancy, palmistry, physiognomy, and more.
