1939 Rare de Laurence Book - Magical Art, Hindu Magic and East Indian Occultism
Author: L. W. de Laurence.
Title: The Great Book of Magical Art, Hindu Magic and East Indian Occultism and The Book of Secret Hindu, Ceremonial, and Talismanic Magic (in one volume).
Publisher: Chicago, The de Laurence Company, Inc., 1939 (14th Edition stated).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 11 x 8 inches.
Pages: 635 pages.
Binding: Very good, near fine, publisher’s richly decorated brown cloth binding, elaborately stamped in gilt with occult motifs and titles to the front cover and spine (hinges fine, overall scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. A striking and well-preserved example.
Content: Near fine content (bright, tight and clean - as shown). Complete with the rare inclusion of 7 original book seals, as shown. A handsome and desirable copy.
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout with numerous plates, diagrams, occult symbols, and portraits, including full-page illustrations and instructional figures.
Estimate: (USD 400–500).
The book: A fascinating and visually arresting compendium of occult knowledge, The Great Book of Magical Art stands as one of the most iconic publications of early twentieth-century esoteric literature. Combining elements of Hindu magic, ceremonial practices, talismanic traditions, and Western occult philosophy, this volume offers a sweeping survey of magical systems as understood and popularized during the era.
The work includes detailed instructions on the creation and use of talismans, magical circles, invocations, exorcisms, and astral practices, alongside diagrams and symbolic illustrations that lend the book both practical and aesthetic appeal. Particularly notable is the inclusion of original book seals, intended for ritualistic or symbolic use, which are often absent from surviving copies and greatly enhance both the completeness and desirability of the volume.
Published by the enigmatic Chicago-based de Laurence Company, this edition reflects a period when occult literature flourished among Western audiences eager to explore Eastern mysticism and esoteric traditions. The bold and ornate binding further reinforces its identity as both a working manual and an object of curiosity.
The author: Lauron William de Laurence (1868–1936) was an American publisher and author known for his influential role in the dissemination of occult and magical texts in the early twentieth century. Through the de Laurence Company, he produced and distributed a wide range of esoteric works, often blending Western occult traditions with interpretations of Eastern mystical practices.
His publications, including this volume, gained international attention and were particularly influential in regions such as the Caribbean and West Africa, where they became foundational texts in certain spiritual traditions. Though sometimes controversial for their eclectic and commercial approach, de Laurence’s works remain highly collectible and continue to intrigue readers and collectors interested in the history of magic and occultism.