A Manual of Occultism

London: William Rider. 1914.

The Astral Tramp

Second edition. 8vo. 184x122mm. pp. xiii [1bl], 356, [4pp publisher's adverts]. Original green cloth decorated with the image of a temple printed in white and then, in blind a sacrificial tripod and bowl. Title and author stamped in blind to upper cover and in gilt to spine where the cover design is repeated in white and gilt. Corners a little rubbed and bumped. Some small tears to head and foot of spine. Internally, there is some toning to the edges but otherwise a very good copy of this encyclopaedic study of the occult. All editions are rare in commerce and and they are often found in poor condition. This is a particularly good copy. Front pastedown has ticket of "Theosophical Book Shop 42 George Street, Edinburgh". Ownership inscription of "R. Lidstone, H.M.S. Constance i.viii.18". Sepharial (1864-1929) was born Walter Richard Old in Birmingham, England. He studied medicine, psychology, astrology and numerology and in 1886 wrote an astrology page in the Society Times. He was one of the founders of the Theosophical Society in England and Madame Blavatsky called him "The Astral Tramp". Sepharial was the first president of the British Astrological Society and seems to have been regarded as the doyen of the occult. His nom de plume Sepharial was the name of an angel in the Book of Enoch.

Ref. 4799