THE SECRETS OF DOCTOR TAVERNER

First edition, first printing. Publisher's original variant red paper covered boards with black titles to the spine, in the fabulous Mendoza illustrated dustwrapper. An excellent near fine copy, the binding fresh, square and firm with just a little bumping at the spine tips. The contents, with very light spotting to the endpapers and closed text block edge are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the rubbed and nicked original dustwrapper that remains bright with only minor loss at the spine tips and a few short closed tears. Correctly priced 7/6 net to the front flap (with evidence of a small circular label having been removed). Rare in dustwrapper.

The binding is one of three known variants: Locke notes others in green cloth and the more common grey paper covered boards with white cloth backstrip. A highly entertaining collection of 12 short stories featuring the Holmes like psychic detective Dr. Taverner and his assistant Dr. Rhodes. Whilst advertised as a work of fiction, Fortune maintained that all events (including death hounds, shape shifters and vampires) were based on true occurrences. Many believe her to have based Taverner on her own spiritual teacher, Dr. Theodore Moriarty and the character of Rhodes on herself. Dion Fortune is recognised as one of the most luminous figures of twentieth century esoteric thought. A prolific writer, pioneer psychologist, powerful psychic, and spiritualist, she dedicated her life to the revival of the Western Mystery Tradition. She co-founded the Society of the Inner Light and was also a member of the Order of the Golden Dawn (as were A. E. Waite, Aleister Crowley, and W. B. Yeats). (Locke: Spectrum of Fantasy; Bleiler).