Arthur Edward Waite’s study of the secret doctrines of Alchemy. The author was a scholarly mystic who wrote extensively on occult and esoteric matters, and was the co-creator of the Rider-Waite Tarot deck. A.E. Waite joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in January 1891, became a Freemason in 1901, and entered the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia in 1902. In this book the author has undertaken to review the long succession of test from their beginning at Byzantium to determine the warrants of the interpretation that the experiments conducted by the alchemists were in fact a series of spiritual investigations veiled in symbols-a Mystic Science of the Soul.

“The affirmation with which I started has now passed into demonstration, namely, that the Order of the Rosy Cross was following the two paths of quest which are denominated Spiritual and Physical Alchemy, and it may be added that the novice passing thought its various Grades was invited to study the writings of Jacob Bohme.”

Hardcover with light shelfwear to corners and ends. Prior owners bookplate inside cover.