Crowley, Aleister. Moonchild / A Prologue (SIGNED). The Mandrake Press, London, 1929.

Price: US$2775.00 + shipping

Condition: Good

Description: Crowley's sought-after novel, freestanding despite the "Prologue" subtitle. Two board corners peeking through the cloth, and some fraying of the blue cloth to top of spine; call this firmly bound 1929 printing "good plus." Signed "Aleister Crowley" to the blank FFE, which (like the RFE) is moderately browned. Then, UNDER his name, the author has inscribed "To Bro Benn" (though the surname trails off, could conceivably be "Bennis" or "Benson," please see scans), "Trusting he will find in these pages the truths he so richly deserves / A" (inscription ends.) The letters "leis" of the author's first name are considerably darker than the rest of his name, and the ink there has bled slightly -- presumably that part of the page was slightly damp when signed. Small, symmetrical nitrate tape marks form a rectangle around this inscription -- possibly a card or piece of paper was once taped there to protect the inscription. Additionally, another previous owner has blindstamped her seal to bottom corner of this page, reading "MDS / Library of Diane Strom." There was a film and television actress of that name, born 1933, but we have no idea if it's the same Miss Strom. A Southern California provenance is certainly possible, however, as the words "Copley Collection" are written in ink in a small hand to top of inscribed page -- a likely reference to San Diego newspaper publishers Helen and James Copley, namesakes of the Copley Library at the University of San Diego.) Occult fiction; two magicians battle for the body of a young woman, whom one hopes will bear an ethereal being -- the Moonchild. 335 pp., "Printed and Made in Great Britain by the Crypt House Press, Limited / Gloucester and London." Reduced from $7,900.

Seller: Cat's Curiosities, Pahrump, NV, U.S.A.