Crowley, Aleister "Moonchild" [Mandrake Press, 1929] 1st Edition

CROWLEY, Aleister. Moonchild: A Prologue.

First edition. London: The Mandrake Press, 1929. 8.75" x 6", 335pp. Publisher's original black cloth lettered in gilt. With a facsimile dust jacket reproducing the striking Art Deco design by Mabel Greene. Moderate rubbing and wear to the extremities, including fraying at the spine ends. Contemporary ownership inscription to the front free endpaper. Hinges secure. Very Goodi.

Crowley's best-known novel and one of the defining works of twentieth-century occult fiction. Drawing heavily on his Thelemic philosophy, Moonchild tells the story of competing magical orders engaged in an occult struggle over the birth of a spiritually significant child, blending ceremonial magic, political intrigue, and satire of contemporary esoteric circles. Although presented as fiction, the novel incorporates many of Crowley's own magical ideas and has long been regarded as one of the most influential literary expressions of modern Western occultism.

Issued by the short-lived Mandrake Press during the brief period in which Crowley's works were again reaching a wider audience, the first edition remains one of the cornerstone books of occult literature. The vividly illustrated Art Deco dust jacket by Mabel Greene is among the most recognizable designs associated with Crowley's publications, though original jackets are notoriously scarce, making this quality facsimile an attractive presentation piece.