Click for full-size.
Rivers of Life: Or Sources and Streams of the Faiths of Man in all Lands; Showing the Evolution of Faiths from the Rudest Symbols to the Latest Spiritual Developments
by Forlong, Major-General J. G. R
- Used
- Signed
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
GIG HARBOR, Washington, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Bernard Quaritch, 1883. First edition, subscriber's copy. 2 vols., 4tos, xli, 568pp and vi, 659, [2]pp. Includes separate, 7.5x2.25' linen-backed folding chart, "A Student's Synchronological Chart of the Religions of the World" in matching slipcase. Vignette illustrations, plates, fold-out maps, charts, errata at rear of vol. II. "Subscriber's copy" written in ink below the publisher's imprint on title page. Presentation copy from the author with a 20x13cm note, 20 lines in Forlong's hand, recto verso, in ink, and signed, attached in old adhesive at the corner to the ffep of volume I. Original green cloth boards lettered in gilt and ruled in black. Some pushing at spine ends and a bit of wear to edges. Library bookplate to front pastedowns of both volumes. Hinges in Vol I only, just starting, else a clean, sound set and very good.
Very intriguing copy of Major General James Forlong's (1824-1904) monumental work of comparative religion, inspired in part by his exposure to Eastern Religions while serving in the Indian Army. The publication was highly controversial due to its inclusion of many sexual and sacrilegious interpretations of symbols and ceremonies. However, the study was revered and oft cited by occultists of the time such as H.P. Blavatsky and Aleister Crowley.
The note from Forlong gives an idea of how few subscriber's copies the author distributed:
"My dear____
I have managed to get you a subscriber's copy 2 vols & chart for £3.10/ which I hope you may have patience to read. I write from the Binders where I found the copy in haste..."
Though other subscriber's copies of this title were issued with a printed designation and without publisher's imprint, this copy clearly came from Forlong. In reading the note, we posit perhaps shortly before the remaining copies of the small print run were put out for sale to the public. In any event, a special copy of this scarce publication of occult significance.
.
Very intriguing copy of Major General James Forlong's (1824-1904) monumental work of comparative religion, inspired in part by his exposure to Eastern Religions while serving in the Indian Army. The publication was highly controversial due to its inclusion of many sexual and sacrilegious interpretations of symbols and ceremonies. However, the study was revered and oft cited by occultists of the time such as H.P. Blavatsky and Aleister Crowley.
The note from Forlong gives an idea of how few subscriber's copies the author distributed:
"My dear____
I have managed to get you a subscriber's copy 2 vols & chart for £3.10/ which I hope you may have patience to read. I write from the Binders where I found the copy in haste..."
Though other subscriber's copies of this title were issued with a printed designation and without publisher's imprint, this copy clearly came from Forlong. In reading the note, we posit perhaps shortly before the remaining copies of the small print run were put out for sale to the public. In any event, a special copy of this scarce publication of occult significance.
.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Peruse the Stacks
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 5635
- Title
- Rivers of Life: Or Sources and Streams of the Faiths of Man in all Lands; Showing the Evolution of Faiths from the Rudest Symbols to the Latest Spiritual Developments
- Author
- Forlong, Major-General J. G. R
- Format/Binding
- 2 vols., 4tos, xli, 568pp and vi, 659, [2]pp. Includes separate, 7.5x2.25' linen-backed folding chart, "A Student's Synchronolog
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition, subscriber's copy
- Publisher
- Bernard Quaritch
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1883
Terms of Sale
Peruse the Stacks
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Peruse the Stacks
Biblio member since 2021
GIG HARBOR, Washington
About Peruse the Stacks
Independent bookseller out of Gig Harbor, WA offering all manner of signed, first edition, and collectible books.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- FFEP
- A common abbreviation for Front Free End Paper. Generally, it is the first page of a book and is part of a single sheet that...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Bookplate
- Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former...
- Errata
- Errata: aka Errata Slip A piece of paper either laid in to the book correcting errors found in the printed text after being...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Title Page
- A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
- Vignette
- A decorative design or illustration placed at the beginning or end of a ...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Verso
- The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.
- Recto
- The page on the right side of a book, with the term Verso used to describe the page on the left side.
Frequently asked questions
This Book’s Categories
Collecting the 1939 New York World’s Fair
Born in the midst of the Great Depression, the theme of the 1939 World’s Fair was “The World of Tomorrow” - a theme that captured the hearts of a generation. Check out the maps, souvenirs, and other ephemera on Biblio!
Vertigo Comics
Vertigo Comics, an imprint of DC Comics, is being retired in 2020 after a 27 year run of groundbreaking comics. The imprint was DC’s home for mature tales that were often horror-themed or otherwise dark in nature. Learn more about Vertigo, home of V for Vendetta, Sandman, and Fables.
