Spare, Austin Osman

ISBN: 1872189563

Paperback 34 pages

Earth Inferno was Austin Osman Spare’s first book of 11 vivid drawings, poems and many embellishments. First published in 1905 in a run of only 265 copies, this edition is a facsimile of that original book and is an affordable way to see one of Spare’s most important works as it was originally published.

Spare, Austin Osman

ISBN: 1872189571

Paperback 44 pages

A Book of Satyrs was Austin Osman Spare’s second book of 13 vivid drawings along with many embellishments. First published in 1907 in a run of only 300 copies, this edition is a facsimile of that original book and also includes the alternate preliminary pages and additional illustration from the later (1909) second edition, making this book an affordable way to see one of Spare’s most important works as it was originally published.

Spare, Austin Osman

ISBN: 187218958X

Paperback 68 pages

The Book of Pleasure (Self-Love) is seen by many as the core of Austin Spare’s magical philosophy and his most important and influential work. It covers his work with sigils as a means of controlling the subconscious mind, the creation of a personal magical alphabet and the practice of the Death Posture. This edition is a facsimile (in a reduced format) of the original 1913 edition and is an affordable way of owning one of Spare’s most famed works.

Austin Osman Spare

A re-typeset copy of the original 1921 edition, and includes 5 extra drawings and 2 colour plates. The foreword is by Dennis Bardens a long time friend of Austin Osman Spare.

Austin Osman Spare

The Sermon to the Hypocrites: An Automatic Writing

Originally written in 1924 and then privately published in 1927, this new edition of Austin Spares fifth book “Anathema of Zos”, has been entirely reset with rubicated text and gold titles. A colour plate has also been added along with many of Spare’s drawings.

written by Ethel Wheeler

illustrated by Austin Osman Spare

132 pp.

by James Bertram & F Russell

with ten drawings by Austin Osman Spare

72 pp.

J C Squire

With initials designed by Austin Osman Spare and cut in wood by W Quick. First published in 1917.

Includes and extract from Stealing the Fire from Heaven
proving Spare's plagiarism for two of the letters together with analysis and possible sources of influence for the others.

Warren Retlaw and Austin Spare

A Philosophic Poem of 95 Quatrains, Coloured frontispiece.

The identity of "Retlaw" is an enigma. The editor in a useful appendix gives reasons why it might be Warren Walter and by careful analysis of Spare's portraits suggests that he may have been Spare's framier. Certainly Spare leant considerable assistance to the writing and publication of this work in 1927. Further appendices deal with Spare's address at this period, 52 Becket House, which Spare used for an exhibition. One of Spare's rarest ephemera "Prices - and the reason for a Guinea Exhibition" which related to these domestic exhibitions is reproduced. There is a further appendix concerning Spare's signature and its employment of the masonic symbol of the circle with a dot in the centre. Also reproduced is the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam as Spare's illustrations for the work, later employed elsewhere, are relevant to the discussion

Frank Letchford

ISBN: 1872189636
Paperback 360 pages

The first biography of the personal life of Austin Spare. Written by a long time student (1937-1956) this volume is crammed with the life and times of the magician/artist and includes the expanded text of The Magician of Southwark. After an exhaustive search, there are more than 250 rare and unpublished photographs. The volume presents a new idea of the art and magic of Spare and is a comprehensive source of biographical information on Spare's life by the F.W. Letchford. This title is a new paperback edition of the First Impressions title From the Inferno to Zos: Vol. 3.

Wallace, W

ISBN: 1872189628

Paperback 486 pages

For the first time, Spare’s art is analysed for its hidden symbolism, a symbolism so rich in the traditions of esoteric knowledge. Dr. Wallace spent the better part of three years in the preparation of this work and his discoveries will be the cornerstone of Spare studies for a long time. One finds a continuity in Austin Osman Spare’s work that would indicate magickal links joining paintings from one period with those of a later time. These are important reference points in his intense, unknown life, yet they are also the keys to his personal magic and philosophical concepts thus far only surmised. This title was originally published in a Hardback edition by First Impressions as From the Inferno to Zos Vol.2.

Dr. William Wallace

Volume 2: The Artist's Books 1905 - 1927

Large Format 13ins x 10ins xiii + 442pp + 16pp glossary & Bibliography Illustrated. Marbled endpapers.

A substantial investigation of the cultural & occult background of Spare's books together with a detailed examination of the symbolism & references in the pictures. He argues that the Alphabet of Desire relates to Enochian. He discusses such influences as Blake, Dante, Nietsche, Crowley of course, Kabbala, Alchemy, Ancient Egypt etc. As he examines each picture in turn even those who disagree with some of his conclusions will admire the window he opens upon the wealth of symbolism in Spare's work.

Trade Edition:
Bound in black Wibalin, hand-made French marbled endpapers, gold blocking on spine and front board. Price £out of print : Now available in paperback — see "Austin Osman Spare: The Artist's Books 1905-1927"

Deluxe Edition:
Bound in ¼ black leather with black Arbelave Library Buckram boards, gilt edged pages, head and tail bands, marker ribbon, hand-made French marbled endpapers, gold blocking on spine. Limited to 100 numbered copies (50 of which are exclusively for sale in the USA and Pacific Rim). Price £125.00

Now available in paperback — see "Austin Osman Spare: The Artist's Books 1905-1927"

Frank Letchford

Volume 3: Michelangelo in a Teacup

Large Format 13ins x 10ins Profusely illustrated. Marbled endpapers.

The first biography of the personal life of Austin Spare. Written by a long time student (1937-1956) this volume is crammed with the life and times of the magician/artist and includes the expanded text of The Magician of Southwark which was announced a few years ago. After an exhaustive search, there are more than 250 rare and unpublished photographs. The volume presents a new idea of the art and magic of Spare and is a comprehensive source of biographical information on Spare's life by F.W. Letchford

Trade Edition:
Bound in black Wibalin, hand-made French marbled endpapers, gold blocking on spine and front board. Price £out of print.

Deluxe Edition:
Bound in ¼ black leather with black Arbelave Library Buckram boards, gilt edged pages, head and tail bands, marker ribbon, hand-made French marbled endpapers, gold blocking on spine. Limited to 100 numbered copies (50 of which are exclusively for sale in the USA and Pacific Rim). Price £125.00

Vera Wainwright & Austin Spare

Poems byVera Wainwright & Masks by Austin Spare. Additional notes by S B Day & J S Cox.

Spare, Austin Osman

ISBN: 1872189644

Paperback 76 pages

The Book of Automatic Drawing is the a compilation of works relating to Austin Spare and Automatic Drawing. It consists of four sections: Automatic Drawing: A Discussion by Hannen Swaffer (extracts from Adventures with Inspiration and London Mystery Magazine); Automatic Drawing by Austin Spare and Frederick Carter (an article from Form magazine); Automatic Drawing as a Means to Art by Austin Spare (section from The Book of Pleasure); A Book of Automatic Drawing by Austin Spare (a sketchbook of drawings).

Art and Letter: Word and Sign

Vera Wainwright and Austin Osman Spare

IHO942-3 (262pp) £19.99

Vera Wainwright was introduced to Spare by Victor Neuburg, they became friends, exchanging many letters and in due course Spare supplied six illustrations for a small book of poems by Wainwright which was first published as Poems and Masks by Toucan Press in 1968.

Art and Letter : Word and Sign reproduces Poems and Masks with many additional illustrations by Spare and a previously unpublished Wainwright poem. It includes both the original introduction by Stacey Biswas Day and her much longer introduction from the second edition.

Published for the first time are ninety-one of Vera Wainwright’s letters to Spare from 1943 – 1946. These show that their relationship was far more than professional — evidently she supported Spare and they planned to live together — this was not to be.

Spare spent his last years in the company of Millicent Paine and it is speculated as to whether he treated Vera at all fairly.

Also included is a biography of Vera Wainwright by J Stevens Cox and a biography of Austin Spare by Wainwright.

Appendices include:

· A discussion concerning the designs by Spare published in the original Toucan Press edition with some speculation as to sources and showing where similar designs were also used

· A short piece by Spare entitled Fragmenta (mentioned in Wainwright’s letters)

· A section on Spare from Adventures with Inspiration by Hannen Swaffer along with a coloured portrait of Swaffer by Spare

· Two poems by Victor Neuburg from The Triumph of Pan which were dedicated to Spare.

Art and Letter : Word and Sign is filled with over sixty-five of Spare’s illustrations, two colour plates and four photographs, making it a fine addition to any collection as well as an intriguing snapshot of Spare’s life.

Austin Spare

Edited and compiled by A. R. Naylor.

Handsomely printed in four colours with many illustrations. This remarkable piece of detective work by the Editor throws new light upon the work of Spare — he was an art thief! Many of the decorated initials that Spare claimed to have designed were in fact copied from the works of others, dating from the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century! There is speculation that a realization of this may have been the true reason that Spare withdrew (or was ostracized) from the artistic establishment. However, the Editor also recovers some work which Spare published under a pseudonym in Form Magazine, and restores it to the corpus of known Spare work. Eight Poems by W.B. Yeats and The Grotesque by Edmund Sullivan are reprinted with the illustrations now known to be by Spare, together with Twelve Poems by J.C. Squire, which Spare claimed to have illustrated and decorated. Although these discoveries do not affect the occult significance of Spare’s work they may now be viewed, by some people, very differently. The Editor also raises the question of authenticity regarding some of Spare’s very elaborate and ‘formal’ alleged automatic drawings — the Spare & Carter illustrated essay entitled Automatic Drawing is reproduced.

Austin Osman Spare

The Magical Writings of Austin Osman Spare

Spare’s complete magical writings printed in one volume. Includes Micrologus, (published elsewhere as Axiomata), The Book of Pleasure, The Witches Sabbath and Mind to Mind and How by a Sorceror. Along with rubricated captitals and shoulder notes this edition includes all the original illustrations to The Book of Pleasure plus a colour plate.

Edited and compiled by A. R. Naylor.

Contents

· Introduction by Frank Letchford

Part I: The Illustrated Articles

· Lucifer over london by Lewis Spence

· The Horrible Horns by Martin Gardner

· The Birth of an idea by Algernon Blackwood

· A dagger of the mind by Dorothy Edwards

· The Mystery of an Artist by Hannen Swaffer

Part II: New Insight

· Beyond Kiã: Inspiration

· What’s in a Mind by Kenneth Walker

· Mind to Mind by Kenneth Walker

· Mind to Mind: But How? by Banesh Hoffmann

· How Indeed? by Kenneth Walker

· Mind to Mind and How by Zos Vel Thanatos (A.O. Spare)

· Adventures with Inspiration by Hannen Swaffer

“Handsomely printed with wide margins and red embellishments, one coloured plate. Spare’s essay ‘Mind to Mind and How’ was first published in the respected Two Tracts on Cartomancy as it deals with divination. This work places it, as near as possible, in its original context:- a response to a series of articles by Kenneth Walker and others concerning telepathy, psychic powers and inspiration carried in the London Mystery Magazine in the 1950s. This work reproduces those articles together with accompanying drawings by Ronald Searle which one could see would have grabbed Spare’s attention. The polemical nature of Spare’s essay, again presented here, becomes understandable, written as ‘a Sorcerer’ Spare declares himself someone who lives what Walker et al speculate about. Too raw for the magazine it was never used. Though the editors passed on this text they published illustrations by Spare. These are reproduced with the associated articles, being short stories by Lewis Spence, Algernon Blackwood, Dorothy Edwards and Martin Gardner. Also provided is the article ‘Mystery of an Artist’ written about Spare by Hannen Swaffer which appeared in the journal. This has been very scarce (original copies carrying the article have been offered for sale for over £200!). The longer work by Swaffer, Adventures with Inspiration is also provided. This discusses Spare in the wider context of sources of artistic inspiration. The front cover utilises a fine picture of Spare at one of his exhibitions fixing the camera in his gaze, with the editors of the London Mystery Magazine behind him. The last pages even give a design provided for the magazine but rejected which Spare went on to utilise elsewhere. This commendable publication represents an excellent window upon an often overlooked aspect of Spare’s work.” Caduceus Books

Frederick Carter and D H Lawrence

Frederick Carter analyses the symbols and apocalyptic images of 'The Revelation of Saint John the Divine' from the point of view of the Astrologer.

'The Dragon of Revelation' was first published in 1931 and later released in 1934 under the new title 'Symbols of Revelation' — the latter edition included several additional illustrations which are included in this new work.

This is the first publication of Lawrence's Introduction and Carter's book together as originally planned for publication in 1929.

Lawrence's stimulating introduction was one of the last things written by him before his death. He had long been interested in Carter's theory of symbols in Revelation, but was unable to complete a much longer version due to ill-health.

The present work includes Carter's letter to the London Mercury (September 1930) regarding Lawrence's Introduction and the complete text of Carter's book 'D H Lawrence and the Body Mystical'.

"The Dragon of Revelations deals with Carter's ideas concerning symbolism and the Book of Revelation. As one would expect from a close colleague of Austin Osman Spare, these are occult. They have certainly been seen as relevant to Thelemic ideas of the new Aeon. 93 Publishing republished similar material by Carter. Lawrence has been associated with a neo-pagan resurgence and a rejection of oppressive morality. He was associated with the Mandrake Press (1929) and some have assumed some connection with Crowley . . . but the relationship with Carter appears far more substantial, and this excellent publication provides the reader with the material to explore this. It is elegantly produced with wide margins, coloured inks and decorated capitals ." Caduceus Books

Frederick Carter

Introduction by Arther Machen.

Carter is often seen by occultists as little more than an acquaintance of Austin Spare with whom he co-edited Form Magazine, co-wrote the essay Automatic Drawing, and who also wrote the introduction to Spare's Focus of Life. In truth, Carter was a prolific artist, writer, illustrator and translator who worked with publishers such as Fanfrolico Press and great writers such as D H Lawrence.

Carter was also fascinated with the Book of Revelation and studied works such as Bond & Lea's Apostolic Gnosis and William Stirling's The Canon. This is the first volume in a trilogy of his studies and his foundational essay regarding astrology, Revelation and The Dragon in the sky!

The second book in the series, The Dragon of Revelation introduced by DH Lawrence and the third, Revelation contains Carter's previously unpublished play and other essays based on Revelation.

Dragon of the Alchemists. Illustrated.