WAITE, Arthur Edward.

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The Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross; First edition, first issue, of this study of Rosicrucianism, following Waite's earlier work, The Real History of the Rosicrucians (1887). The present work examines the movement's beliefs surrounding Genesis, the nature of the soul, and the development of its symbolism. The book remains highly regarded within Rosicrucianism and is considered a key scholarly text for those beginning their study.Waite (1857-1942) was a member of the Golden Dawn, the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia, and a prolific historian of occultism. Though best known for the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, designed under his supervision by Pamela Colman Smith, "through his critical and historical studies of occultism in all its forms, and even more by his carefully edited alchemical texts, Waite brought order out of the chaos of the occult revival and enabled the study of both the history and content of 'rejected knowledge' to become academically acceptable" (ODNB).The first issue has the uncorrected Latin footnote on page 185. Upon discovering the error, Waite swiftly ordered the gathering to be reprinted.

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