List No.8 The Writings of Manly P. Hall

Transcription

1 List No.8 The Writings of Manly P. Hall Todd Pratum Bookdealer, est Athol Avenue, No.8, Oakland CA

2 ORDERS and reservations accepted 24/7 by phone, , and mail, confirmed within 24 hours. Please order with book number! POSTAGE is at cost, media mail will be about $5 - $10 per order depending on weight, foreign postage starts at $35.00, free insurance on all orders. PAYMENT Past customers pay on receipt of books, institutional libraries billed, new customers invoiced by , payment by check (preferred) or PayPal for a 5% charge. Any purchase can be returned without reason for a complete refund, including postage if my fault. NB: I m still working on Catalog 100, it s growing like an alien mushroom in my living room, not sure what it will be like when done but it will be special! Thanks for reading. +++T+++ One of the first esoteric books I ever read was Hall s Healing the Divine Art. I was 17 and obsessed with Atlantis, the I Ching, Lobsang Rampa, Carlos Castenada, Jane Roberts and Charles Fort. By some miracle I got a job as a dishwasher on the US Geological Survey vessel the SAMUEL P. LEE and just before shipping out I happened on the venerable Kepler s Bookshop in Menlo Park CA. There I bought a box of carefully chosen books including Hall s Healing and read all of them while sailing the Seven Seas (actually we only sailed four). How could I have known that a few years later in 1981 I would open my first bookshop, specializing in art and esoterica? I think Hall had something to do with it. Later I visited the PRS library a few times and saw him lecture twice. Then I was most interested in Thomas Taylor The Platonist and to my surprise his rare early editions were freely available to consult. Most people don t understand that Hall established the first and only full service, open to the public, free rare book esoteric library in America, still open to the public without charge or hassle, with a marvelous bookshop and art gallery. Today his building, designed by the Atlantist Robert Stacy-Judd is an Historic Cultural Monument in LA, where people still labor to fulfill Hall s idealistic vision. If we widen our historical scope a bit, beyond comparing him to other esoteric writers we can see him as an inheritor of the American Transcendentalists, especially Emerson, and other radicals like his neighbor up north Henry George, and perhaps even paving the way for Traditionalist thought in America. In his early 20 s, with no higher education and basically self-taught he got rich on Wall Street and improbably spent his fortune (in the middle of the depression) funding the

3 publication of the Secret Teachings of All Ages, designed and printed by America s greatest printer John Henry Nash. People thought he was bonkers but his book has outlived so many others, a book historians have sadly ignored but history itself will never forget. Yes, there are newer and better texts, most by modernist bean counters, but how many people actually read them? Few. Yet how many still read Hall? Many. Another nearly unique aspect of Hall is that he understood the central importance of preserving the physical texts in a library for the people, an idea lost on intellectuals now. If there is a good response to this list (i.e. some people actually buy something) I can pay off my storage bill and dig for more MPH books. In researching these books great gratitude goes to Alan Harris perfectly complete list of all MPH publications, the only such list in existence (even the PRS is unable to provide a complete list). ND = no date listed. 12mo = small book usually 8.5 x 5, Octavo = average book size, less then 10 tall, Quarto = art book size, over 10 tall, Wraps = plain paper covers. If you have questions please ask! 1) THE ADEPTS IN THE EASTERN ESOTERIC TRADITION. Complete in four volumes. Part 1 THE LIGHT OF THE VEDAS st ed, 111pp; Part 2 THE ARHATS OF BUDDHISM st ed, 112pp; Part 3 THE SAGES OF CHINA st ed, 113pp; Part 4 THE MYSTICS OF ISLAM st ed, octavo, publ s paper wraps, sewn signatures, vg-f condition. $125.00

4 2) THE ADEPTS IN THE WESTERN ESOTERIC TRADITION. Complete in five volumes. AMERICA S ASSIGNMENT WITH DESTINY 1951; MASONIC ORDERS OF FRATERNITY 1976; ORDERS OF UNIVERSAL REFORMATION UTOPIAS 1976; ORDERS OF THE GREAT WORK ALCHEMY 1976; ORDERS OF THE QUEST THE HOLY GRAIL All cloth & dj, gilt bindings, mostly fine condition, these are the PRS reprints of the original paper bound editions, textually identical. Some of these are very scarce in both the cloth and paper editions. $250.00

5 3) ALL SEEING EYE. A Weekly Paper Devoted to Philosophy, Science and Religion. Five issues sold together, all are Volume , Issues No.9 [date misprinted as 1926], No.10, No.13, No.14, No.18, quarto stapled wraps, 8pp each, some interesting ads, a few tiny creases but vg-f. Begun in 1923, it later went to a monthly then finally disbanded in 1931 with Volume 5 No.12. All issues are very rare. According to the masthead there were 1252 subscribers in One of Hall s admirable characteristics were his radical political beliefs, rarely mentioned now but present here. $425.00

6 SIX PAMPHLETS SOLD TOGETHER 4) ASTROLOGICAL ESSAYS; THE BLESSED ANGELS; A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE; THE PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGIOUS RITUAL; THE SYMBOLISM OF LIGHT AND COLOR; THE MEDICINE OF THE SUN AND MOON. Six pamphlets sold together, nd ed; st ed 1 st printing; st ed 1 st printing; st ed 1 st printing; st ed 1 st printing; 1975 second printing, octavo, stapled wraps, bookplate removed from one, slight soiling to another but all vg-f. $140.00

7 RARE EARLY APPEARANCE OF ONE OF HALL S MOST FAMOUS PUBLICATIONS 5) [Astrological Keywords] A 12mo two-ring binder, stamped Astrological Keywords by Manly P. Hall in gilt on spine, 96pp, nicely typeset and illustrated with text figures and diagrams, complete though there is no title page, probably missing, text begins with table of contents. The first 64pp are ringed in the binder, the last pages are laid in as the binder is too small for them and this would seem to indicate that the first 64pp were issued separately and the last pages issued later and thus this undoubtedly precedes the first published edition of 1929 of one of Hall s most famous and lasting books, and one of his earliest full treatises on any subject. Corners of binder a bit worn, trivial thumbing, a vg copy with a number of contemporary penciled annotations. A few pages of typed notes by a later student are inserted at back. $200.00

8 6) D.O.M.A. CODEX ROSÆ CRUCIS. A Rare & Curious Manuscript of Rosicrucian Interest, Now Published for the First Time in Its Original Form. Introduction and Commentary by Manly P. Hall. LA: Philosophical Research Society nd ed, (1st ed 1938), folio, publ s thick rose-colored gilt cloth, 114pp, title page rubricated, two color plates on glossy stock and 26 B&W plates, one folding and extending, all illustrating early books and manuscripts of the order, the folding plate here is neatly detached, the binding is slightly marked but fine condition with the Metaphysical Town-Hall Bookshop bookseller s label (legendary shop in San Francisco), nice book arts compared to the later reprints. This is Clay Holden s copy (John Dee Publication Project) with his sigil on the flyleaf and two original printings of Pagesgem and Bacap Laflos laid in. The illustrations include: The Dragon of Chaos, the folding and extending Magical Calendar of Tycho Brahe (detached and laid in); and a B&W plate of the great cross of the Rosicrucian adepts, neither of which appear in the earlier D.O.M.A. versions; and many pages with both English (black) and Latin (red) text translated from the original manuscripts; along with other text illustrations. There have been two different editions of Hall s book, yet all are textually the same. Hall states in his preface here that Since the first edition of this book, nothing has come to light which would require a revision of the text. As far as we can learn, no other work has been published which sheds additional light on the DOMA manuscript or the related reference works which we have mentioned. However the presentation of the illustrations has varied a bit in some printings, and even though I've handled all of them it's difficult to keep straight the differences. Some printings only have B&W

9 plates, the first edition is the best as it is larger in size and of superior binding, but that is quite rare. Besides Hall s annotated facsimile of the original edition, he provides here an extraordinarily detailed iconographic examination of every symbol, plus an expose of The Hartmann Hoax. Sold with a Health Research paper reprint of the Hartmann edition, folio in size, with plates in color. $ ) D.O.M.A. CODEX ROSÆ CRUCIS. A Rare & Curious Manuscript of Rosicrucian Interest, Now Published for the First Time in Its Original Form. Introduction and Commentary by Manly P. Hall. LA: Philosophical Research Society 1974 reprint of the 2nd ed of 1971, (1st ed 1938), tall quarto, publ s red gilt fabrikoid, 114pp, title page rubricated, two color plates on glossy stock and 26 B&W plates, fine copy. And exact reprint, though smaller in size and in different binding from the 1971 printing. Very well published, thick paper and strong binding with sewn signatures. $ ) AN ENCYCLOPEDIC OUTLINE OF MASONIC, HERMETIC, QABBALISTIC AND ROSICRUCIAN SYMBOLICAL PHILOSOPHY. [Secret Teachings of All Ages]. Being an Interpretation of the Secret Teachings Concealed Within the Rituals, Allegories, and Mysteries of All Ages. Philosophical Research Society 1975 (1928), autographed by the author, large heavy folio bound in papercovered thick boards in imitation of the original 1928 edition, well printed and strongly bound with sewn signatures, 245pp plus 48 full color plates (some folding) and 203 b&w text illustrations, bibliography and index, autographed by Manly Hall, one plate is coming loose else a very fine copy. This is the original Golden

10 Anniversary edition, not to be confused with later reprints so-called (1977 & 1979). A faithful facsimile reproduction of the famous 1928 original. The original plates were sacrificed to WWII metal drives and hence all later editions are photo-offset. There have been a number of reprints but most in b&w and reduced in size, only two full size color editions exist besides this; the Diamond Anniversary Edition (1983), and the PRS 1998 reprint of this very edition which is still in print for $280.00, neither were signed but both are the same size and in color but the later is printed and bound in China and after selling many new copies back in the day some customers returned them as the binding came loose and so we discontinued it. Do not get fooled by the abomination published by Penguin Tarcher. I was shocked to learn that recently PRS let this eternal title go public and now all kinds of pirateers and imbeciles are reprinting it. There was a good paperback edition issued by PRS, almost as large as this and in color, but now unobtainable it seems. $ ) FRANCIS BACON THE CONCEALED POET. 1941, 1 st ed 1 st printing, 12mo, stapled pamphlet, 51pp plus ads, fine copy of the first printing. Manly Hall once confessed that of all the adepts it was Bacon who captured his imagination the most. These little pamphlets of Hall s look deceptively ephemeral when in fact they contain some of his most erudite and digested scholarship, and to read them in the original format, instead of the cheap reprints of today really bring his whole zeitgeist alive. $45.00

11 10) FROM A PHILOSOPHER S SCRAPBOOK revised edition, octavo, glued wraps, 65pp, tiny stain on cover else fine, with a wonderful portrait frontispiece of Hall reading in his library with his friends (his books!). The first edition was $ ) LADY OF DREAMS. A Fable in the Manner of the Chinese. 1943, 1 st ed, small 8vo, orange boards with lettering in black, 46pp, printed on laid paper, frontispiece plus woodcuts in the text, fine copy in the original glassine, with rare PRS folding bookmark with list of current titles (c.1940 s), fine condition. $ ) LADY OF DREAMS. A Fable in the Manner of the Chinese. Another copy, exactly as the above but sewn wraps, no bookmark, the same sheets as the above. $35.00 Lecture Booklet series. No s , original printings 13) A PLAN FOR YOUTH. CONQUERING FEAR. UNIVERSAL REFORMATION OF TRAJANO BOCALINI. HYPNOTISM. THE COMTE DE ST-GERMAIN. NATURE SPIRITS ACCORDING TO PARACELSUS. INITIATION OF PLATO. Small octavo, stapled wraps, each about 30-40pp plus

12 ads at back, fine condition. Apparently all published in this series, and it would seem never reprinted. $ NINE MANUSCRIPT LECTURES, LATER TITLED MANUSCRIPT SERIES, PLUS TWO MIMEOS FROM EARLY CLASSES. 14) [LECTURES] MANUSCRIPT LECTURES No.1 THE SEX PROBLEM 1923; No.2 RELATIVITY 1923; No.37 SPECIAL CLASS IN THE SECRET DOCTRINE AND THE STANZAS OF DZYAN (no date); No.38 THE GOD OF THE ATOMS 1925; No.39 PUTTING THE HOUSE OF THE MIND IN ORDER (nd); No.40 PSYCHOLOGY, FALSE AND TRUE (ND); No.41 THE OCCULT CHRIST (nd); No.46 MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL ALCHEMY (nd), all in publ s oblong stapled wraps, about 10-12pp each, in mimeo, not typeset. These were handed out at his lectures in various places in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. Plus two very rare and early Class Notes, one titled CLASS THREE, ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION, THIRD CLASS OF FIVE LESSONS (nd), (about 15pp); and a bound volume of QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, NOTES OF A CLASS GIVEN BY MANLY P. HALL (nd, but very early, possibly one of his first classes), this last text contains 100 questions and answers regarding HPB s Secret Doctrine, the text is very worn, repaired with yellowing tape and obviously was passed around and used by many, at an early date it was rebound by the famed Metaphysical Town-Hall Library & Bookshop of San Francisco with their stamp on the cover, where Hall lectured occasionally. Condition is good to fine here, the penultimate title is rather soiled. $350.00

13 15) [Lectures] MANUSCRIPT SERIES, REPRINT, SCIENTIFIC SERIES. Six Manuscript Lectures. No date, third revised edition [1923?], stapled oblong wraps, about 60pp, in typescript-mimeo, fine copy. $75.00

14 16) [Lectures] INCOMPATIBILITY, A CRISES IN MODERN LIVING, A LECTURE 1956; LIFE PLANNING 1969; WOMAN, THE MOTHER OF ALL LIVING, A LECTURE 1955, three pamphlets, all octavo stapled wraps, all first editions, about 40pp each, fine condition printed on glossy stock. $ ) THE MOST HOLY TRINOSOPHIA OF THE COMPTE DE ST. GERMAIN. With Introductory Material and Commentary by Manly P. Hall. LA: Phoenix 1933, 1 st ed, small quarto, cloth-backed marbled boards, gilt spine and decorated cover, 116pp, a few mounted plates in sepia, flyleaf detached, three margins a bit torn, binding edge-worn, especially at the foot, sewing somewhat strained but firm, the very scarce first edition, printed in Los Angeles one year before Hall founded the Philosophical Research Society. A Bilingual French- English edition. $120.00

15 18) MY PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE. Basic Convictions on Essential Principals of Richer Personal Living. Ten-inch long-playing vinyl record in printed paper sleeve, lacking slipcover. I don t have a turntable but the vinyl looks untouched, the sleeve is a bit soiled and misfolded. Manly had some charming old-timey thoughts about America and destiny but I hope this is not all about that! I can only find two copies online, one that skips and is scratchy for $55.00, and another, on Amazon with no condition description for $ $75.00

16 19) THE MYSTERY OF ELECTRICITY, A RETROSPECT AND A PROPHECY rd ed, 12mo stapled wraps, 53pp, fine copy. Laid in is a leaflet advertising Hall s lectures in Oakland in $ ) NEW ATLANTIS, BEGUN BY THE LORD VERULAM FOREWORD BY MANLY P. HALL st edition, one of 1000 copies printed, cloth & dj, 129pp, not typeset, fine copy. $ ) THE ORIGIN OF THE EGYPTIANS. Introductory Preface by Manly P. Hall (reprint of the 1914 edition) cloth with dj, 159pp, 37 b&w plates, notes, mint copy. $ ) PSYCHOANALYZING THE TWELVE ZODIACAL TYPES th ed, 12mo stapled wraps, 65pp, covers a bit bent, back cover lightly soiled from handling. First published in $22.00 More images

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25