Rosicrucians. Secondhand Books. Man Myth & Magic

R1. Allen, P.M (editor and compiler), A Christian Rosenkreutz Anthology, 1968, 3rd edition revised, 2nd printing, Steiner publications 1981, 4to, red cloth, 646pp + advertisement leaf, with many illustrations in the text. An excellent compilation of Rosicrucian texts. In addition to essays by Steiner, there are several non -partisan offerings, such as texts from Robert Fludd and Thomas Vaughan. Also included are Foxcroft’s 1690 translation of the Chymical Wedding and Gardner’s 1923 catalogue of Rosicrucian books. A fine copy of the increasingly uncommon hard cover issue. £50

R2. Bennel, M & I. Wyatt, A Commentary on the Chymical Wedding of Christain Rosencreutz, 1 st and only edition, The Michael Press, no date (c.1960), 8vo, stapled, French folded, stiff printed wrappers, 72pp. Printed on quality laid paper in violet ink. An outline of the text of the Chymical Wedding, with commentary, explanation, and notes by two followers of Rudolph Steiner. The Chymical Wedding itself is one of the foundation texts of the Rosicrucian movement, first written down by Valentin Andreae in 1604, and thought to date from 1459. Ownership inscription to top of title page and brief ink notes to final margin, otherwise text clean and tight. Some light edge wear to covers and slight rubbing at spine. Uncommon title. V.good - £10

R9. Eugenius Philalethes (Thomas Vaughan), The Fame and Confession of R.C, 1659, Helios 1970, 4to, quarter beige buckram and blue papered boards, rose cross design in gilt to front board, 104pp, number 10 of a hand numbered, limited edition of 200 copies. An unusual, but nice quality edition of one of the most important of the early Rosicrucian texts, produced by duplicated typescript with a facsimile of the original title page, and on thick high quality paper. Print marks to blank verso of title page. Trivial bowing to edge of front board (as usually happens with titles in Helios’ Rare Text Library of Philosophical Research), otherwise an unusually fine copy. Scarce. £25

R9A. Eugenius Philalethes (Thomas Vaughan), The Fame and Confession of R.C, 1659, Helios 1970, 4to, quarter beige buckram and blue papered boards, rose cross design in gilt to front board, 104pp, number 10 of a hand numbered, limited edition of 200 copies. An unusual, but nice quality edition of one of the most important of the early Rosicrucian texts, produced by duplicated typescript with a facsimile of the original title page, and on thick high quality paper. A few minor marks to covers. Print marks to blank verso of title page. Scarce. Very good + £20

R11. Heindel, M, The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception, 1911, 8th edition, Rosicrucian Fellowship 1922, Cr8vo, pictorial green cloth gilt, 616pp including index + publisher’s advertisements. With a frontispiece portrait, diagrams in the text + 2 coloured plates. A treatise on mystical Christianity, focussing on man’s spiritual evolution and development, all from the viewpoint of 20th century American Rosicrucianism. Spine slightly darkened, corners bumped. Minor marks to a couple of margins, text clean and tight. Very good £10

R15. Waite, A.E, The Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross, 1st edition, Rider 1924, 8vo, original red cloth gilt with gilt titles to spine and rose cross design in gilt to spine and front board, 24 + 649pp including index + 16 plates, title page printed in red and black. Top edge gilt, others uncut. Still after nearly a century, this book remains the most scholarly and comprehensive account of the Rosicrucian movement and its off-shoots to be published in the English language. A couple of spots to front board, cloth lightly rubbed in places on rear board, minor wear to spine ends and corners. End papers a little browned, some occasional light foxing to first few leaves and some margins. Text tight and still very clean. Overall, a very good copy of the scarce original issue £125

R16. Waite, A.E, The Real History of the Rosicrucians, 1887, Steiner 8vo pbk. 1977, 8 + 446pp, with a few illustrations in the text. One of the first objective studies of the Rosicrucian movement. Although Waite later revised certain of his ideas on the subject, this study remains a useful one, particularly for its translations of key Rosicrucian documents. Light reading crease to spine, covers soiled. Previous seller’s label to top corner of half title, a few page corners previously turned, contents clean and tight. Very good - £8

R17. Yates, F, The Rosicrucian Enlightenment, 1972, Ark 8vo pbk. 1986, 16 + 269pp including index + 30 plates (on ordinary paper). A scholarly study of the origin and development of the Rosicrucian doctrine. Light edge wear to covers, rear cover slightly soiled, contents clean and tight. V.good £5