[The Secret Teachings of All Ages] An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy, Being an Interpretation of the Secret Teachings concealed within the Rituals, Allegories and Mysteries of All Ages
Publishing: Printed for Manly P. Hall by H. S. Crocker; San Francisco
King Solomon Edition #34/ 550
The masterfully bound occult classic is considered Manly P. Hall's Magnum Opus. Nearly 100 years later, this book continues to stand as a remarkable monument in the Western esoteric canon. "In all the history of book fabrication in America, no such volume as the book by Manly P. Hall has ever been attempted before" [Overland Monthly 1928] The book measures nineteen inches in height and thirteen inches in width. It consists of 260 pages, including 54 full-page color illustrations and 200 additional black and white illustrations. The book was printed on Alexander Japan, 100-point basis paper produced by Strathmore Paper Company. At the time of publication, the paper required to print these editions made the largest order of Alexander-Japan paper ever placed in America. The beginning of each chapter is adorned with dual-colored, specially cut Italian illuminated initials from the Renaissance period. The color plates on the 1928 editions were never reproduced with the same craftsmanship; each illustration was produced in full process colors—red, yellow, blue, and black. Some plates required special order colors, including gold and silver. The Heraldic Arms of Jesus Christ required eight colors to reproduce. Two fold-out illustrations measure 29x19 - The Bembine Table of Isis and the Rosicrucian Formula. The heavy boards are half-bound with baby goat vellum and rare Ceylon-designed Batik paper, which was also used for the endpapers as well as on the wooden slipcase. Although Hall intended to release only the Subscribers Edition limited to 550; his popularity grew exponentially in the years it took to produce this book. Hence, in order to maintain demand, he increased production to include the King Solomon Edition, The Rosicrucian Edition, and the Theosophical Edition. All of which were produced concurrently alongside the Subscribers Edition. There are some people who consider all of the 1928 editions to be 'First Editions', while others believe that 'The Subscribers Edition' is the 'True First Edition'. One thing is certain: all of the 1928 editions are remarkable and, apart from the assigned title to each, they bear no differences from one another. It's almost impossible to find them in Near Fine condition with the spine label fully intact.
The book was published by John Henry Nash from San Francisco and was initially released in five editions, totaling 2,200 books in 1928.
The Subscribers Edition: 550, King Solomon Edition 550 , Theosophical Edition 200 , Rosicrucian Edition 100, Fifth Edition 800 Contains 54 Full page illustrations by J. Augustus Knapp, and approx. 200 black and white illustrations,
Contains 54 Full page illustrations by J. Augustus Knapp, and approx. 200 black and white illustrations,
Condition: Elephant Folio measuring 19" Tall and 12.5" in width, total weight nearly 20 pounds, vi + 246 pp, top edge gilt, original patterned paper boards with vellum corner tips and spine, gilt titled leather spine label is complete and quite unusual to find in this condition as these often chipped over time, the wooden slipcase is also in wonderful condition - also uncommon as this wooden slipcase was almost always inevitably damaged by the elements, all pages are clean, binding is tight, overall Near Fine