Collectanea Hermetica Hardcover - 1998

From the publisher

This collector's edition contains the first modern reprint of William Wynn Westcott's original translation of the Sepher Yetzirah and his series of hermetic tracts, Collectanea Hermetica. It also features an introduction by the noted esoteric scholar, R. A. Gilbert.

First published as nine individual books between 1893-1896, with contributions by Percy Bullock (Levavi Oculos -- L.O.), Florence Farr (Sapientia Sapienti dono data -- S.S.D.D.), and E W. Coleman (Audi et Aude -- A.E.A.) -- all members of the Golden Dawn -- Collectanea Hermetica is made up of "old Rosicrucian tracts and other notable volumes of occult lore", including translations of older works long out of print. Collected in one volume for the first time are:
-- Hermetic Arcanum -- "Wherein the Secrets of Nature and Art concerning the matter of the Philosophers' Stone and the manner of working are explained in an authentic and orderly manner". -- a translation of Jean d'Espagnet's 1623 alchemical text, Arcanum Hermetica Philosophica Opus.-- The Divine Pymander -- The classic arcane text attributed to Hermes Trismegistos, as reprinted by Westcott from a translation, first published in 1650 by Dr. John Everard.
-- The Hermetic Art -- Written anonymously by a Rosicrucian adept and published in 1714, this volume is as much concerned with Alchemy as a method of improving the human condition as it is with the alchemical process of transmutation.-- Aesch Mezareph -- A collection of purportedly Hermetic ideas found in classical and ancient Hebrew texts, such as the Zohar and Talmud, which illustrate the correspondences between Kabalah and Alchemy. Originally compiled by "A lover of Philalethes" and published in1714.
-- Somnium Scipionis -- Comprised of three texts: The Vision of Scipio by Cicero, with notes and an essay about its mystical connotations; The Golden Verses of Pythagoras; and The Symbols of Pythagoras. The latter two works are also annotated, with commentary by Westcott (under the pseudonym/motto Sapere Aude) and editors of previous editions of these two works, and are the only works extant directly attributable to Pythagoras.-- The Chaldaan Oracles of Zoroaster -- A classic of ancient, mystical texts, Westcott sources from a variety of previous editions and commentaries for this version. Includes a bibliography of source material available in England at the end of the 19th century.
-- Euphrates -- Originally written in 1655 by Thomas Vaughan under the pseudonym Eugenius Philalethes. This "very curious and highly mystical tract" combines Vaughan's thoughts on philosophy and alchemy as a foundation of understanding.-- Egyptian Magic -- Written by Florence Farr under her Golden Dawn pseudonym S.S.D.D., this is an overview of the different components of ancient Egyptian magic and ritual as recorded in ancient papyri.
-- Numbers: Their Occult Power & Mystic Virtues -- Presents various fragments of the lore of numbers as assembled by Westcott in the course of his years of esoteric research.

The final book, new to the Collectanea Hermetica series, is Westcott's translation of the Sepher Yetzirah, the oldest extant treatise and the most original source material of Kabalistic philosophy. Westcott's translation, published in 1911 and meant to be a part of the original Collectanea series, is derived from original Hebrew texts and medieval Latin translations existing atthe time.