Frederick
Hockley (scribe and artist), Experimentum, Potens Magna in Occult Philosophy, Society of Esoteric Endeavour 2012, 1st Ed. Numbered
limited edition of 100 copies (10ins x 8ins) 33pp full colour plates reproducing
Hockley’s lavishly illustrated manuscript. 37pp text by Dan Harms gives a brief
Introduction, full transcript (Hockley’s calligraphy looks beautiful, but can
be hard to read) plus commentary.
In the work
Hockley collects a number of rituals, giving some a powerful visual form, akin
to a Mandala. In the final ritual, a perilous invocation of Oberion, he records
the appearance of the spirit in a grotesque form reminiscent of Edvard Munch’s
the Scream. This shows Hockley to be an occult artist of a status hitherto
unrealised in publications of his work. One wonders if the references to the
ritual use of cannabis and opium in Experimentum signal tools that Hockely
used. There are magical procedures for causing the destruction of enemies,
routing out thievery, the magical protection of places and buildings, magical
fascination, fulfilling sexual desire and a perilous invocation of the spirit
Oberion. There is a strong folkish element hand in hand with complex ritual.
Hockley gives some spells a striking visual forms, akin to Mandala. These,
supplemented by a haunting illustration of a grotesque Oberion - reminiscent of
Edvard Munch’s the Scream, establish Hockley as an innovative occult artist in
ways unseen in previous publications. Throughout he employs calligraphic hands,
rather than his usual handwriting, making this a visually impressive volume.
The book is
half bound in sheepskin leather, which has a lovely natural texture subtly
different from the usual goat. The leather has been tanned to be especially
pliable, soft and water resistant. The remainder of the board is covered with
marbled paper hand made in a traditional 19th century pattern and
treated with beeswax by a specialist craftswoman, to give it a water resistant
finish and which, with the leather, makes the book pleasant to touch,
especially as the marbled paper has been backed with padding, bringing it flush
to the leather. The gilt blocked title on the spine and the blind blocked
decoration emulate the script and decorations used by Hockley internally. The
paper used is 160 gsm mould made paper with natural laid texture.
The use of
more water resistant materials gives these facsimiles a fighting chance of
resisting any water damage to add to that of the original manuscript which has
clearly, at some point, been stored in damp conditions. There is
discolouration, show through and offsetting. This has all been reproduced in
facsimile. As the pages are printed Giclée process, not as photos of a book,
but so it appears that you actually have an old bound manuscript. The
Transcript and Commentary is given in a readably calligraphic hand sympathetic
with Hockley’s styles. A tinted paper is used, so the latter section does not
visually jar with the appearance of age of the facsimile section. Hockley’s
probably sources are identified, and this throws light upon that early 19th
Century British occult milieu, the Society of the Mecurii, concerning whom
there is considerable interest.
All copies
come with a bookmark featuring the waxed marbled paper, designed to fit over
the page and holdfast.
EXPERIMENTUM GBP 185.00
Plus
insurance, postage and cost (850 grams, prices in GBP).
UK
7.55
Europe airmail 12.17
Rest of the
World airmail 18.33
There is the optional
extra of a slipcase made to order. These are available in two variants, both
have the waxed marbled paper on all three edges with cloth sides and features
the same blocked decorative motif as the covers, but here in gilt rather than
blind.
Standard
slipcase GBP 50.00
Book in standard slipcase from above
Lidded
Slipcase. Has spine label on leather.
GBP 65.00
Postal
charges for either slipcase, with or without chemise, are as follows:-
UK
3.50
Europe 6.00
Rest of the
World airmail 11.90
If desired
either slipcase can be ordered with the additional chemise. This will have a
the leather label with the title and spine decoration blocked in gilt. The
cloth bound boards will have the board decoration in gilt. Internally, it will
feature one of the plates, which will have been enhanced to be as it would have
been when executed by Hockley. So signs of discolouration will be removed. The
illustrations are striking now, but when Hockley drew them he included
considerable ornate embellishment in gold, copper and silver metallic inks.
These have all tarnished now, and can only really be discerned by close
examination of the original manuscript. For the chemise, modern stable metallic
inks will be applied by means screen printing. This process yet to be
completed, so regret no photos available at this time.
Please note
than the slipcases have to be made wider to accept the chemise, so the chemise
has to be ordered at the same time as the slipcase
CHEMISE GBP 55.00
A realist
supply time for slipcases and chemises is within two months.
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