1. Starr, Meredith / [Roland Meredith Starr] / [Meher Baba].

The Way of Escape.

First Edition / Original Edition. Cambridge, Published by the National Poetry Circle, [1931]. Small Octavo (12.7 cm x 18.8 cm). 15 pages. Original Softcover, stapled with cover-illustration by Meredith Starr, monogrammed in the plate “M.S. 1931”. The booklet rests loosely inside the original softcover wrappers. The staples a little rusty. Otherwise in excellent condition with only minor signs of external wear. This pamphlet is of extreme scarcity ! The last two pages of the publication are basically an advertising for the retreat center which Meredith Starr established in 1931 at East Challacombe, North Devon (a couple of miles from Combe Martin), to where he invited Meher Baba in order to come and meet westerners. In his preface, [Roland] Meredith Starr writes: “The Way of Escape” is a symbolic poem that deicts some of the complexes of modern life, particularly those responsible for the cleavage between thought and reality ! The ways of Escape, the path leading to the North, represents the attainment of synthesis (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual maturity) in a world disintegrated by analysis. Neither realism nor idealism can satisfy the needs of the present age. Both are necessary and both must be integrated in a Higher Consciousness. In this connection the remarks of Jung in “Psychological Types” concerning the symbol will repay serious investigation. A symbol is composed of elements that are both real and unreal, and hence can bridge the gulf between and illusion. In the poem this Higher Consciousness is indicated by the description of Alaska and by the utterances of Christ – not the Christ of dogmatic religion, but the living Christ of universal love and wisdom immanent in every human heart and personified by the great religious teachers of Mankind – Combe Martin, Meredith Starr”.

2. Lilly, William.

Christian Astrology [Bound before:] An Easie and plain Method – Teaching How to judge upon Nativities. The Rectification of a Nativitie by Trutine of Hermes, Animodar or by Accidents. A Brief Way of Judgement, declaring those generall Accidents which in a natural course depend upon the signification of the 12 Houses of Heaven. The effects of Directions, Revolutions, Profections and Transits; the exact Measure of Time in Directions. By William Lilly, Student in Astrology” – “Ars Longa, Vita Brevis”. [Includes several sections on Women in relation to Astrology and Prophecies like for example: “″If ones Lover or wife hath a Sweet-Heart besides himself” (page 316) / “Hath she a Lover” (page 316) / “Of a Woman flying [fleeing] from her husband” (page 330) / “Of Death, Dowry, Substance of the Wife &c.” (page 404) / etc.].

Original Edition (NOT a Reprint). Two works in one Volume. London, [John Macock], 1658 / [1659]. Octavo (14,5 cm x 19 cm). Pagination: Portrait and Titlepage missing, 18 unnumbered pages “To The Reader” / “The Contents”, [1] page “To the Student in Astrology” by William Lilly / [16] unnumbered pages of “Lunar Aspects” and “Tables of Houses”, pages 25 – 832 pages plus a manuscript Index and some very few manuscript annotations in ink. [The publication on Nativities has its own titlepage on page 487 of the book]. Hardcover / Ugly, Private 20th-century binding. Poor condition, Portrait and titlepage and maybe some more pages of the Introduction missing, beginning and end of the book with frail, some detached pages with some strong fraying. Page 703 with tear. Still a very, very rare book with some amazing historical astrology and related history like “Table of Longitudes and Latitudes of certain Cities and great Towns in England” (mentioning also “Dublin in Ireland” and “Edinborough in Scotland”. The privately affixed Index condensed some secret knowledge important to the preowner of this book: “Colours of the Planets”, “Combustion”, “Face of a Planet”, “Names of Planets and Signs”, and it also mentions a case in which a “Thief to be judged of by the peregrine Planet” etc. From the 18th-century-library of one “Joseph Clark”, with his name in ink verso the titlepage of the “Nativities”: “Joseph Clark – his Book – 1765”.

3. Drachmann, Holger.

Troldtøj: Folkesagn I Nutidsliv [Translates: “Witchcraft: Folklore in Contemporary Life”]. Med Billed-Fantasier af Joachim Skovgaard, Aug. Jerndorff og Th. Bindesbøll.

Kjøbenhavn, Ernst Bojesens Kunstforlag, 1889-90. 27.5 cm x 33 cm. 202 pages. Many black and white illustrations. Original Hardcover. Poor condition. Gilt title and ornamental decoration on spine. Binding and spine weakening. Boards, corners and spine rubbed. Minor foxing throughout. Pages separating from bookblock. Tanned deckled edges. Previous owner’s name in ink on front endpaper. From the reference library of Hans Christian Andersen-Translator Erik Haugaard.

4. Baxter, Michael Paget [Author of “The Coming Battle”].

Louis Napoleon, the Destined Monarch of the World, and Future Personal Antichrist, Foreshown in Prophecy to Confirm a Seven Years’ Covenant with the Jews about seven years before the Millenium, and (after the Resurrection and Ascension of the Wise Virgins has taken place two years and from four to six weeks after the covenant), subsequently to become completely supreme over England and most of America and all Christendom, and fiercely to persecute Christians during the latter half of the seven years, until he finally perishes at the descent of Christ, at the end of the War of Armageddon, about or soon after 1873. Including an Examination of the Views of the Revs. G.S.Faber, Edward irving, E. Bickersteth, T. Birks, C. Maitland, D. Mc Causland, J.H.Frere, Sir E. Denny, Major Phillips, Judge Strange, Dr. Tregelles, etc.

Ninth Thousand. London, William Macintosh, 1865. Small Octavo. XIX, 383 pages. With Nine Diagrams and Two Maps. Hardcover / Original, publisher’s cloth with gilt lettering on spine. Binding a little dusty and rubbed but firm and the publication overall in very condition with only minor signs of external wear.