Raphael's Ancient Manuscript of Talismanic Magic
Publication: Copyright 1916 The DeLaurence Company; Chicago
This De Laurence edition is a facsimile of a hand-written manuscript penned by Robert T. Cross, writing under the psedonym "Raphael" in 1879. This manuscript was itself drawn largely from a manuscript translation of "The Key or Clavis of Rabbi Solomon", to which was added some extra material from the work of Cornelius Agrippa and Francis Barrett.
in regard to the publisher Lauron De Laurence, he was a "renowned book pirate, plagiarist, and publisher of occult literature. De Laurence was notorious for taking other people's works and reissuing them under his own name (sometimes re-titling them in the process). In this instance he has been quite restrained, and merely credited himself with non-existent editorial duties. Despite his roguish eccentricities de Laurence played an important part in the occult history of the USA: he was a pioneer in selling occult books and supplies by mail order, and the cheap "Pow Wow" books and other books of simple magic which he published were surprisingly well received, and he is quite revered in some quarters."
Condition: Black faux leather withe gilt title to front board still bright, the boards have scuffing all around, some discoloration to the outer joints, the bottom corners are bumped, despite some of the exterior flaws the pages remain clean with no markings, all things considered the book is in Good+ condition