Aleister Crowley 1st Ed LE Charles Baudelaire Bosschere

Aleister Crowley 1st Ed 1928 (1913) Charles Baudelaire Bosschere Decadent Occult Poetry RARE LE 1/800

LITTLE POEMS IN PROSE

by

CHARLES BAUDELAIRE

Translated 

by

Aleister Crowley

 Jean de Bosschere

Published by Edward Titus, Paris, 1928 (from sheets printed in London in 1913)

First Edition, limited to 800 copies, this being #224

This is the original First Edition copy of Aleister Crowley's translation of Little Poems In Prose by Charles Baudelaire.

The story goes that Crowley had the sheets for this book printed by the Chiswick Press in 1913, and  intented to publish it under the Wieland imprint. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, that edition was never published, and only a single proof copy survives. The unbound sheets were kept in storage until the 1920s, when Crowley sent them to the Parisian publisher, Edward Titus. Titus added a new title page, and several other preliminary pages and some advertisements at the back. Facing the title page, and just below the Titus sign of the black manikin, is the following statement: "Made and printed partly in Great Britain, partly in France", confirming that the bulk of the content, was indeed made up of the 1913 printed sheets, intended for Chiswick Press. Titus also decided to add twelve erotic black and white copper plate engravings from the original drawings by renowned decadent artist Jean de Bosschère, but was obviously faced with a problem, given that the 1913 printed pages were already numbered. To overcome this, he used the sheets, which had the copper plate engravings, and cut them so they were slightly wider than existing pages of text. These sheets were then inserted into the 16 page folded sections of text, so that the extra width of the illustrated pages would form a kind of butt-end on one side of a section of pages, and a full illustrated page on the other. In this way, the illustrated pages were able to be sewn together with the text page sections. Because of the strange way of adding the sheets with the copper plate engravings, and producing these 'butt-ended' sheets, it gives the appearance that some of the pages have been cut away - but this is not the case at all. All the text  pages are present, and the same goes for the 12 copper plate engravings of Bosschère's drawings. The drawings themselves are very interesting, and worth the price of the book, alone. They play with decadent erotic, SM & fetishistic themes, and are executed in the avant-garde styles of that period. These copper plate engravings show Decadent, Futurist, Dadaist, Surrealist & even Cubist styles and influences, all reproduced in stark black and white, and perfectly complementing both Baudelaire's poetic vision, and Crowley's occult filtered interpretation and translation of the text.  

The book's content is set out in the following order. Prior to the title page, there is a small printed slip, tipped onto the half-title, announcing that "The quota of this edition apportioned to the United States of America sold by Random House, New York." Following the title page, there is a 3 page translator's preface by Crowley, and after that, a dedication by Crowley, to Anna Wright. From their, it goes into the prose poems of Baudelaire, and it is fascinating to read Crowley's translations of one of the greatest decadent poets, of the early modern era. At the back of the book, there are 3 different versions of Epilogue, translated by 3 different writers, which concludes the text part of the book. It is a timely reminder of the art of translation, and shows how different translators can alter the meaning & vision of the original text. It also perhaps, makes a very interesting comment on Crowley's translation of all the preceding prose poems. After the Epilogues, there is the limitation page, which states: "First edition limited to 800 copies for sale in France, England and America. This copy is number #224". There are then 2 pages of "Misprints", which includes a note by the publisher recording his emphatic dissent from (Crowley's) observation and the note to which it refers. On the following page, there is a mention of the "Chiswick Press: Charles Wittingham and Co. Tooks Court, Chancery Lane, London", and below that, a mention that "Illustrations engraved and printed by Martin Kealin; the whole assembled and compiled by imprimerie Crete, both at Montparnasse, Paris.

This very rare copy is in very good condition, overall. The cover appears somewhat worn, and a bit soiled and faded, with rubbing and wear to the edges, but is quite solid, whole and intact. This is the orginal cover, with a rectangular printed label (of the title, etc.), pasted into the cloth front cover, which is also faded and rubbed in places, but still legible. The binding is tight, and pages are crisp and clean, with just a hint of toning to the edges. For its age, this book is in remarkable condition, and appears to have never been fully read (if at all). Quite a number of pages are uncut. The top page edges have been squarely cut, and are gilded; but the fore-edges and lower edges, have been unevenly cut.

This is certainly a very rare and scarce First Edition of this Crowley title, which would make an excellent addition to any Thelemic library. This is also a very early English translation of Baudelaire's work, and a very rare illustrated edition, with the 12 decadent copper plate engravings of Bosschère's drawings. This is therefore an important edition on 3 fronts. Do not miss out on this rare opportunity, you may not get another chance. Buy It Now, before someone else does! 

Expedited (Express) Post, with full tracking, is available upon request. Otherwise, this will be sent by either registered or insured post.

Check out my other items! As I have many more rare occult books by Crowley, Spare, Motta & Grant available.

Be sure to add me to your favourites list! I will be listing many more rare & important titles, from my collection.