Louder Than Words

of Theosophical journals, including the newspaper Le Théosophe . WorldCat and Library Hub find complete sets at nine institutions worldwide (four in France, and one apiece in Italy, Belgium, Bulgaria, South Africa, and Canada). Four volumes, octavo, the first three “en carré”. Uncut in the original buff printed wrappers. Diagrams in text. Spines of first three vols slanted and creased, wrappers remarkably well preserved, browned and with a few chips, light creases, and short closed tears at extremities, contents in fine condition. ¶ Caillet 1212 (US and UK editions; “this work made an epoch in Occultism”). Maria Carlson, No Religion Higher Than Truth: A History of the Theosophical Movement in Russia, 1875–1922 , 1993; John Golding, Visions of the Modern , 1994; Michael Gomes, foreword to the abridged edition, 1972; Vsevolod Solovyov, A Modern Priestess of Isis , 1895. £3,750 [153829] 20 BOCHOŘÁKOVÁ-DITTRICHOVÁ, Helena. Z mého dě tství (From My Childhood). Prague: Orbis, 1929 the first female graphic novelist Scarce first trade edition, signed by the artist in pencil on the title page, of the first graphic novel published by a woman. From My Childhood is a moving memoir of the joys and sorrows of Bochořáková-Dittrichová’s early years, told wordlessly through a series of 95 bold woodcuts, mostly depicting quiet domestic scenes from her middle-class upbringing. Czech artist Helena Bochořáková-Dittrichová (1894– 1980) brought her own distinct style to the woodcut novel, a genre developed by Frans Masereel and Lynn Ward in the early 20th century. In this work she “offers a refreshing divergence from the squalor presented by urban woodcut novel artists . . . Bochořáková-Dittrichová’s focus is not on the sullen

19 BLAVATSKY, Helena Petrovna. Isis dévoilée. Paris: Les Éditions Théosophiques, 1913–21 “an epoch in occultism” First authorized edition in French of the author’s first major publication, each volume 9 of 25 copies on japon: a beautiful set, with all but one volume preserved “en carré”. It is genuinely rare, especially in this format; we can trace no copies in commerce, and only nine complete sets in institutions worldwide. Isis dévoilée was first published in English as the two- volume I sis Unveiled: A Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology (1877). The first volume, “Science”, opens with a discussion of Darwin’s Origin of Species and Huxley’s Physical Basis of Matter – Blavatsky’s attack on materialist science – and is followed by chapters on spiritualism, Mesmerism, the Kabbalah, and the advanced knowledge and achievements of ancient societies. The second volume, “Theology”, includes her views on secret societies such as the Jesuits and Freemasons, and a comparison of Christianity with Hinduism and Buddhism. Isis Unveiled totalled 1,300 pages and had an initial print run of 1,000 copies, all of which sold out within ten days. It is “a remarkable effort from one who had begun writing in English only three years before its debut, and who, by her own admission, had never been to any college or studied any branch of science. In spite of this, reviews at the time of its publication indicate that the book was regarded as one of great erudition and not just a literary curiosity” (Gomes). The New York Herald Tribune reviewed it as “one of the most remarkable productions of the century”, though many of Blavatsky’s contemporaries accused her of plagiarism, for failing to acknowledge hundreds of her sources. The 1913–21 French translation was made by R. Jacquemot and seen through the press by Gaston Revel (1880–1939), director of Éditions Théosophiques and founder of a number

side of life but rather an examination of childhood with playful games such as building snowmen and snowball fights. This is a youthful work in the narrative sense, and it is best to consider this a novel of impressions” (Beronä, p. 10). Inspired by her life experiences as much as by religion, travel, and history, she “quietly strengthened the case for topics such as domestic life to be seen as legitimate art subjects rather than as easily dismissed female fodder” (Rebecca Gross, quoted by Brooks). This is her first novel; Arne Novák, a Czech literary historian, provides the preface. In addition to the trade edition, there was a limited edition comprising 10 numbered and signed copies on Japan paper and 50 numbered copies on Ullersdorf paper.

Square octavo. Original cream paper-covered boards, black circular graphic on front cover. With pictorial dust jacket, repeating larger version of same graphic within front panel design. Woodcut title page, 95 full-page woodcuts, printed rectos only. Spine ends gently bumped, contents lightly toned, jacket browned, rubbed and chipped at extremities, tiny split along fold of front flap, else of a piece and presenting well. A very good copy indeed, particularly so with the fragile original dust jacket. ¶ David A. Beronä, “Artists Without Authors: The Wordless Novels of Helena Bochořáková, Babette Katz, Barbara Henry, and Jules Remedios Faye”, The California Printmaker , CSP Journal , 2002; Katherine Brooks, “Meet The World’s First Woman Graphic Novelist, Helena Bochořáková-Dittrichová”, Huffpost , 26 May 2014. £7,500 [162005]

All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk

LOUDER THAN WORDS

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