The Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, 1953.
 
‘New and Revised edition’ of the 1871 original. Hardcover. 4to. pp i-v, 1-861, v, 1-218. Burgundy boards with two-headed eagle of the Ancient and Accepted Rite stamped in gilt on front board. Title and and two-headed eagle stamped in gilt on spine. ‘8’ pencilled on top right of front free end-paper. Spine slightly faded, mild wear to boards, and slightest sign of shelf-wear to fore-edge of text block else a Very Good condition of an esoteric classic. 
 
Albert Pike’s substantial volume on esoteric philosophy.  Originally given to every new member of the Ancient and Accepted Rite, it comprises of 32 essays on comparative religion, history and philosophy.  
 
Interestingly, Arthur Edward Waite thought that Pike drew extensively on the works of Eliphas Levi, finding content from Levi’s ‘Dogma and Ritual of High Magic’. Regardless of accusations of plagiarism it contains much that will be of interest to anyone with a passion for esoteric philosophy and mysticism.
 
£50.