The Starry Wisdom Library: The Catalogue of the Greatest Occult Book Auction of All Time

Nate Pederson

ISBN 10: 1848637918 / ISBN 13: 9781848637917

Published by PS Publishing, 2014

176 pages. 8.40x6.00x0.90 inches. In Stock. Seller Inventory # 1848637918

Synopsis:

Scholars and book collectors across the country have long pondered the intended fate of the infamous collection of rare occult books left to rot in the Church of Starry Wisdom in Providence, Rhode Island, after the Starry Wisdom cult dispersed to parts unknown in the late 19th century. The recent, shocking discovery of a previously unknown book auction catalogue issued in 1877 offers insight into the myriad mysteries of the cult. Entitled Catalogue of the Occult Library of the Recently Disbanded Church of Starry Wisdom of Providence, Rhode Island, and issued by the notorious Arkham firm Pent & Serenade, the catalogue reveals the long-suspected fact that the Church intended to sell its library to finance its removal from Providence. The sale, of course, never materialized as later events make obvious but the book auction catalogue informs us of the cult s original intent and leaves for us an enormously valuable and fascinating piece of ephemera detailing the infamous collection of rare occult books in all of its dark and foreboding glory. Furthermore, the book auction catalogue is unique amongst its contemporaries in that the auction firm Pent & Serenade recognizing the importance of the exceedingly rare volumes in the cult s possession commissioned a wide variety of 19th-century scholars to write essays on the histories of the books offered at auction. As such, the catalogue is a uniquely almost absurdly valuable item for scholars and collectors around the world, and is presented here in exacting facsimile by PS Publishing.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Starry Wisdom Library: The Catalogue of ...
Publisher: PS Publishing
Publication Date: 2014
Binding: Hardcover
Illustrator: Liv Rainey-Smith
Condition: Brand New