Esoteric

The Trials of Oz – Tony Palmer – with Felix Dennis Bookplate – 40th Anniversary Edition

This book carries the bookplate of Felix Dennis (1947-2014) with the pencil note likely by Dennis xi ii which presumably means February 2011.

Felix Dennis was one of three charged and found initially guilty in the famous “Schoolkids Oz” obscenity trial in London. Dennis received a lesser sentence because he was considered less intelligent than the others.

Published by Gonza Multimedia in 2011, softcover 312 pages, many illustrations including the somewhat offensive which formed part of the trial. The book is a great read especially for those the like the machinations of a good court drama. Verbatim mixed with other narrative about the lead up, police, judiciary etc. Political influence is said to have been involved in getting to the lads sentences rescinded – the Judge met then secretly and got their commitment not to be “so naughty”.

For the dumb one Dennis did very well and went on to build a magazine and media empires worth several hundred million quid, bought David Bowie’s West indies paradise, set up the biggest tree planting charity in England etc etc – quit a chap – look him up.

OZ Trial – for provenance couldn’t be beaten

PS If your protective of Rupert the Bear this is not the book fro you …

$120.00

Updating cart…

The Brotherhood of Angels of Men – Geoffrey Hodson – First Edition 1927

A very scarce and unusual book, near impossible to find in its super Art Deco jacket [designed by Phoebe Stabler] and in such good condition. Image repeated as frontispiece.

Published by the Theosophical Publishing House, London in 1927. Small quarto, fifty-six pages, printed on quality rag paper by Humphries of Bradford.

Geoffrey Hodson [1886-1983] was born in Lincolnshire and has his first encounter with the “Serpent Fire” at the age of six. He embarked on a life where he became one of the world’s leading Theosophists – live in Western Austral and New Zealand where he saw out his life.

A clairvoyant of stature, mystic, philosopher, esotericist etc. He wrote over 50 books on the broader subject. This early book of his perhaps the most admired as it is built on a period of his life when he was in connection with angels.

The artist Phoebe Stabler [1879-1955] was better know for her ceramics – she did designs for Worcester, Doulton and Poole. She had a penchant for angels – reflected hear.

Scarce and enlightening first edition

$80.00

Updating cart…

The Martian – George du Maurier – First edition 1898

First edition published by Harper & Brothers in 1898.

A substantial book, large squarish octavo, 471 pages, dark black end papers which show signs of paper label removal. Striking deep blue cloth covered boards with gilt titles, design, and faux signature to front, gilt title to spine, extraordinarily clean. Someone has assembled poetry to the early preliminaries, which we find quite charming.

Considered the be quasi autobiographical with a strange surreal Martian twist. The life of Barty Josselin as told by a friend Robert Maurice from early days at the Institution Brossard in Paris. Josselin a good looker and thoroughly talented and extrovert. Later back in England Barty has a spell in the army.

Later his eyesight starts to fail which makes him think of taking his own life. In a dream a spirit guardian in the form of Martia from Mars comes to him. From then Martia inspires him and provides advice which secures his career as an author. Martia has other influences and wishes him to marry Julia … and all gets a little complicated from there ..

George du Maurier Channelling a Martian Spirit Guide

$90.00

Updating cart…

Books and Persons – Being Comments on a Past Epoch 1908-1911 – Arnold Bennett. {Ernest H. Shackleton book label – warning see below]

A first edition published by Chatto & Windus in 1917. Octavo, 338 pages. Black cloth covered boards, paper title label [original spare label at rear for anyone that wants to refresh]. No dust jacket probably as issued.

An interesting book by the talented and highly productive wordsmith – Bennett. Dedicated to Hugh Walpole. Bennett had had a number of articles published in the “New Age’ under the nom de plume “Jacob Tonson”. About one third of those re-appear in this book … with some misprints corrected and various crudity softened.

Various subjects tackled with the usual wit and pointedness include … Ugliness of fiction; French Publishers; German Expansion [note 1908]; the Book-buyer; Joseph Conrad and the Athenaeum; Unclean books; the New Machiavelli; Anatole France etc etc

The mystery of the Ernest H Shackleton book label … many booksellers around the world have fallen into the mire in promoting such items as once owned by the distinguished Polar explorer … we think it’s either the “H” for Henry or the desire for profit that traps them – and their customers. Unfortunately, about the right time, a not so distinguished [no writs please] New York lawyer amassed quite a collection and affixed his unpretentious label to each. You have been warned – but may see an opportunity!

Arnold Bennett a keen observer who shared – if Polar add a nought!

$35.00

Updating cart…

Houdini on Magic – Edited Gibson and Young – First 1953

Published in 1953 a first edition by Dover, USA. Octavo, 280 pages, images from period photographs of the great man and many technical drawings of the tricks behind his escapology.

Previous ownership stamp on free end paper, a little age offset by the rare dust jacket.

Houdini, born Erik Weisz in Budapest, brought to the USA as a child by his parent. He became likely the world’s greatest ever escapologist, with a raw technique unassisted by modern contrivance. The principal author was his amanuensis [assistant who documented his activities] in the last ten years of Houdini’s life. Who better placed to produce this informative work describing, inter alia, the famous handcuff escape; locked jail escape; underwater escape … among his magic tricks we learn about the disappearing girl; how to walk through a brick wall and cut a woman in half.

Throughout all of this we learn about the man himself … just as mysterious!

Houdini on Magic – Who Else

$60.00

Updating cart…

U.F.O – Evaluating the Evidence – Bill Yenne

Who doesn’t like a good U.F.O book?

Published by Saraband, USA in 1997. Largish quarto, 160 pages, with a multitude of UFO images and related … corny UFO designed end paper … we like them. Nibble on dust jacket otherwise very good. A bit too big for economical Overseas postage.

The author is an aviation / space ex buff so the UFO interested is a related spin off [joke intended]. Some really good stuff in here as well as the usual “cover up” … not sure why government is so obsessed with hiding the truth about UFO … they may be friendly ….

UFO explained – lots of them – look up next time you are out!

$35.00

Updating cart…

The Trials of Oz – Tony Palmer – with Felix Dennis Bookplate – 40th Anniversary Edition

The Brotherhood of Angels of Men – Geoffrey Hodson – First Edition 1927

The Martian – George du Maurier – First edition 1898

Books and Persons – Being Comments on a Past Epoch 1908-1911 – Arnold Bennett. {Ernest H. Shackleton book label – warning see below]

Houdini on Magic – Edited Gibson and Young – First 1953

U.F.O – Evaluating the Evidence – Bill Yenne

Product Categories