First edition of Crowley’s first published novel, a semi-autobiographical story of drug addiction vaunting the curative properties of the Abbey of Thelema. Written in less than a month and attacked upon publication in the Sunday Express as “a book for burning”, the Diary became a classic of its genre. “ The Diary of a Drug Fiend , which presents an idealized and, at times, tempting picture of [Crowley’s] abbey – his depictions of the surrounding scenery contain some of his best writing – is based on the idea that through magick and Thelema, one could learn to take or leave drugs as one willed” (Lachman, p. 226). The book very quickly sold out its first run of 3,000 copies. Deeply impressed with the novel, Collins urged Crowley to write an autobiography, his future Confessions . Later, following the onslaughts in the Sunday Express , he allowed the book to go out of print. Octavo. Original blue cloth, lettering and publisher’s device to spine and front cover in red. Spine ends a little creased, extremities rubbed, the binding overall square and sound, offsetting to endpapers, contents clean; a very good copy indeed. ¶ Fuller, Bibliotheca Crowleyana , 50a; Yorke 50a. Gary Lachman, Aleister Crowley. Magick, Rock and Roll, and the Wickedest Man in the World , 2014. £1,500 [158090]
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31 CRUIKSHANK, George. Fairy Library. London: David Bogue; & Routledge, Warne, and Routledge, [1853–54] rare complete set of cruikshank’s fairy library in the original wrappers A lovely set of first editions in the original wrappers; Hop-O’My-Thumb and The History of Jack & the Bean-Stalk with all of Cohn’s first issue points. Cohn notes: “ Puss in Boots is extremely rare”. Cruikshank’s Fairy Library “contained some of his best drawings” (Mitchell, p. 146), and “remain fascinating museum-pieces of moralism” (Zipes, p. 38). Although Cruikshank’s illustrations for the first English translation of Grimm’s Fairy Tales received a great deal of praise, this foray into the world of children’s fantasy proved less successful. Many, including Charles Dickens, criticized the artist for the temperance-inspired slant he put on these traditional stories. In Cinderella , for instance, the court prepares for the ball by setting fire to its entire reserve of alcohol. Alterations such as this prompted Dickens to write and publish a satirical attack on Cruikshank entitled “Frauds on the Fairies”, in Household Words magazine in 1853. Cruikshank’s fine woodcut illustrations failed to gain him support and Dickens’s
view prevailed, crushing one of Cruikshank’s last hopes for public acclaim, an offence that would not be forgiven: “when Dickens died in June 1870, Cruikshank pronounced, ‘One of our greatest enemies gone’ ( TLS , 2 May 1935, 288)” ( ODNB ). 4 volumes, small quarto. Original blue printed wrappers, titles and pictorial designs printed in black to front wrappers. Housed in custom late 19th-century blue straight- grain morocco case with titles in gilt to spine, double-gilt ruled sides, brass clasps. Each with etched frontispiece and 5 similar plates by Cruikshank, publisher’s advertisements to rear wrappers. Cinderella : with ownership inscription of Algernon Frederick Edward Thomas Hussey (1849–1884) and gift dedication inscription “Algernon Hussey from his cousin Florance [ sic ] Jan 16th 1855” to verso of front wrapper and free endpaper, W. H. Smith embossed stamp to rear wrapper. Hop-O’My-Thumb : bookplate of Harry Bache Smith (1860–1939), American composer and lyricist, to verso of front cover; wrappers darkened with small burn to outer margin of front wrapper. Puss in Boots : upper outer corner of front wrapper torn, still attached but fragile, repairs to verso of one plate. Light soiling to wrappers, spines worn and split at tail but holding firm, some foxing to contents, but generally clean; a very good set indeed, remarkably well preserved. ¶ Cohn 196–9. J. Zipes, Victorian Fairy Tales , 2016; S. Mitchell, Victorian Britain. An Encyclopaedia , 2012. £2,500 [157541]
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All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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