The Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross by A.E. Waite (1924 First Edition)
Publication: 1924 William Rider & Son; London First Edition
Very nice copy of a magnificently produced and important book, Sixteen full page illustrations, hand cut pages, elaborate gold gilt decorated boards. According to Golden Dawn and Waite scholar R. A. Gilbert: "Waite's study is, even now, the only significant historical work in English on the Rosicrucian movement of the 17th century and its successors." It includes a short section on the formative years of the Golden Dawn, accompanied by a reproduction of one of the pages of the "Cipher Manuscripts." Curiously Waite makes no direct mention of his own involvement in the Golden Dawn, nor the successor groups the Independent and Rectified Rite and Fellowship of the Rosy Cross.
Condition: Large Octavo, Original crimson boards with elaborately decorated gold gilt on spine and front board, spine edges turned in, corners slightly bumped,gilt still very bright, binding is tight, evenly toned, owners inscription to pastedown, all pages are clean with no markings, the back board has a 1.5 inch spot with discoloration, still a nice bright copy as these editions are typically very had to find in good condition, deckled edge pages, top edge gilt, binding tight, overall in Very Good+ condition