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.
This item has sold out.
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.
Book
in standard slipcase from above
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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