This is Patreon Book nr.2, that is, bought entirely from the donations raised from patrons. Well, not entirely, I covered the shipping and handling because I wanted to get something truly unique, so I asked Dan Harms if he would sell me a copy personally in order to have his signature as well:
I`m sure he understands the importance of people signing in your book to make it more special :D
Is this volume truly a `sourcebook` as the title describes it? Yes, yes it is, one thousand times YES! I`ve never come across newer material when it comes to ritual magic texts since the publication of the Book of Oberon (also his) and I must say that I`ve been waiting its publication with my heart pounding ever since I saw the announcement.
Contents:
OAD&S is a complete transcript and translation of the 17th century British manuscript called E. Mus 173. Not many things are known about its author, but there is a chance that he might be Thomas Allen, `astrologer, scholar, tutor and reputed wizard`.
The author introduces us gradually to the 17th century English magical milieu and mindset, with a great chapter on magic and witchcraft, cunning folk, published works on magic and manuscripts, sliding ever so gently into the cosmology and theological framework that underpins the said beliefs, analysing (briefly but comprehensively) the role of angels, demons, fairies, ghosts, planetary spirits and witches in the system that the manuscript employs.
The manuscript itself contains one of the most diverse collection of invocations, experiments and figures ever encountered.
It's important to know that some magic books were brief sections, from one to several pages long, dealing with specific subjects, and not whole books as we are used to call them, something passed down from Arabic magic.
Some of the most well-known books or experiments in E.Mus.173, shared with other manuscripts, would be:
-The Consecration of the Book
-The experiment of Mosacus
-The experiments of Asazell, Askariell and Alkates
-The experiment of the Four demonic Bishops (Teltron, Spirion, Boytheon and Maveryon) for theft.
-the binding of the spirit Bilgal to a crystal
-the Roman experiment of William Bacon.
-many many others, with a wealth a small gems gathered from here and there, the sources ranging from the works of Agrippa and Pseudo-De Abano to the Thesaurum Necromanticum and the work on the seven rings of Messahala I am currently translating.
Some sections, however, present a great interest, being either completely new to us of very interesting versions of previously published materials: at least three books functioning as catalogues of spirits, of which two contain a great wealth of seals and one is the fabled De Oficiis Spirituum, the grandfather-text of the Goetia.
Seal of the spirit Azoel, fol56v
I cannot stress enough the importance of these textual versions, because they prove to be an important link in the transmission of magical texts from the age of the manuscript knowledge to the age of published materials. The two other spirit lists are virtually unknown and I believe they have not been translated thus far and they bear striking resemblances with the Book of Bileth and the Testament of Solomon, the spirits being presented with their rank and powers in the first person.
Through a collective effort I have managed to raise the money necessary to pay the Bodleian Library for the publication of the original diagrams and seals, and I will publish them when time allows.
Minus points:
1. The graphics are modern and do not keep the original. There`s good reason for this, such as the high price of the original images themself, as I myself have learned, but this shortcoming has been turned into an advantage.
2. Unfortunately, the binding, my nemesis... The book is gild-stamped on the inner cover, dust jacketed, the pages are superbly printed, two inks, quality paper, but the book is glued (perfect binding) not sewn. But that's not an issue with anyone except nitpicky bibliophiles and bookbinders such as myself. So it wouldn't be a problem. And yes, I will still bind it in full leather.
Plus points:
1. The graphics. As I mentioned, the original images could not be reproduced (not without a sizeable sum of money invested, and as we know, books on magical manuscripts that deal with treasure hunting are no way to get yourself rich, ironically enough). But the job done by James Clark is so precise, well-cut and still faithful to the original, even an imagistic purist like myself is pleased and will take his hat off to the illustrator.
2. The book itself is one of the most important published so far, in my opinion, bringing forth material that has never before the light of print.
and 3, the humor, well placed for keen readers:
The author and publisher make no claim that the spirits Zorobaym or Benias are present in this book, nor that the spirits Satrapis, Beluginis and Baramptis will return it if you lose it.
All in all, one of the books of the year, if not the decade. A must-have for any serious researcher on the subject or magic aficionado.
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