The Teitan Press
Encyclopedia
The Teitan Press is a small publishing house specialising in books by and relating to Aleister Crowley
, and to scholarly works on the occult
.
. Between 1987 and 2003 they produced eight books. Five were new editions of works by Crowley: "Konx om Pax
," "Snowdrops from a Curate's Garden," "The Winged Beetle," "The Scented Garden," his translation of Charles Baudelaire
's "Little Poems in Prose," and two were first printings of books by Crowley: "The Scrutinies of Simon Iff," and "Golden Twigs." They also published Starr's biography of W. T. Smith, "The Unknown God."
In December 2006, Starr and Winston passed control of The Teitan Press to Weiser Antiquarian Books
. The new owners maintained the press's special emphasis on Crowley books, but broadened the scope to include scholarly studies on other aspects of the Western Hermetic tradition. In 2007 they published Frater Shiva's controversial account of his life in the infamous "Solar Lodge
" occult group: "Inside Solar Lodge, Outside the Law." Since then they have published twenty more books.
. As a consequence they have a tendency to sell out faster than some mass-market works, and many of their early publications are now collector's items.
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
, and to scholarly works on the occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
.
History
The Teitan Press was founded in Illinois in 1985 by Martin P. Starr and his business partner, Frank Winston. It was started with the aim of producing quality editions of works by and about Aleister CrowleyAleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
. Between 1987 and 2003 they produced eight books. Five were new editions of works by Crowley: "Konx om Pax
Konx om Pax
Konx Om Pax: Essays in Light is a publication by British occultist Aleister Crowley, first published in 1907. The name Konx Om Pax is a phrase purportedly used in the Eleusinian Mysteries...
," "Snowdrops from a Curate's Garden," "The Winged Beetle," "The Scented Garden," his translation of Charles Baudelaire
Charles Baudelaire
Charles Baudelaire was a French poet who produced notable work as an essayist, art critic, and pioneering translator of Edgar Allan Poe. His most famous work, Les Fleurs du mal expresses the changing nature of beauty in modern, industrializing Paris during the nineteenth century...
's "Little Poems in Prose," and two were first printings of books by Crowley: "The Scrutinies of Simon Iff," and "Golden Twigs." They also published Starr's biography of W. T. Smith, "The Unknown God."
In December 2006, Starr and Winston passed control of The Teitan Press to Weiser Antiquarian Books
Weiser Antiquarian Books
Weiser Antiquarian Books is the oldest occult bookstore in the United States. It specialises in books on Aleister Crowley and his circle, magic, mysticism, eastern religions and alternative spirituality. Its earlier New York incarnation "The Weiser Bookshop" was described by Leslie A...
. The new owners maintained the press's special emphasis on Crowley books, but broadened the scope to include scholarly studies on other aspects of the Western Hermetic tradition. In 2007 they published Frater Shiva's controversial account of his life in the infamous "Solar Lodge
Solar Lodge
Solar Lodge was a secret society that was established in 1965 and withdrew into initiatory inactivity in 1972. It was loosely based on ideas from Ordo Templi Orientis and used the curriculum of the Astrum Argenteum established by Aleister Crowley....
" occult group: "Inside Solar Lodge, Outside the Law." Since then they have published twenty more books.
Teitan Press Books
Teitan Press publications are hard-cover books, cloth bound and sewn, printed on low-acid paper, and a number incorporate color and black and white plates, photographic reproductions of original manuscripts etc. Due to the specialized nature of their subject matter, all have had relatively small print-runs, and the more recent volumes have been issued as numbered, limited editionsLimited edition books
A limited edition book is a description of a book which is released in a limited print run quantity, usually much smaller than publishing industry standards, and connotes a level of scarcity or exclusivity...
. As a consequence they have a tendency to sell out faster than some mass-market works, and many of their early publications are now collector's items.