Rare books from Tom Heywood Books

In wonderful condition. Likely to have been well shelved and kept from the beginning. Exceedingly rare in the first edition in this condition. Pages are bright, unmarked, clean. Literally two small spotting marks if you look for them, no other marking or tanning. Remarkably pristine. DJ is unclipped, and in an excellent state. The most very minor of shelf wear here and there. Boards clean and tight. All quite remarkably well preserved. Hard to imagine a better copy exists. See photos.First edition first printing.143pp illusThorndike's classic biography of Michael Scot, the leading Alchemist, physician, astrologer and divine of his age. His insistence on experience & his allusions to experiments influenced the methods later used by Grosseteste and Roger Bacon. But he also delighted in `adulterine arts such as the interpretation of dreams, auguries and lots'. Born in Scotland in about 1175, he is thought to have studied at Oxford, and very likely both taught and studied at the University of Paris. As a… Read More

SIGNED
Cheiro's famous book on ghosts, RARE signed. Born William John Warner, he became a celebrated clairvoyant, astrologer and palm reader and authored several well known books on these topics. He told the fortune of many celebrated figures of his day, including Mark Twain, Thomas Edison and Oscar Wilde.
This copy is in very good condition. Please see photos, all of which are of this copy. The book is essentially sound, with in fact very clean pages with only some foxing on outer edges but remarkably clear in text itself save for a few spots on just a few pages. Some give to spine but nothing too serious. The title page seems missing (and one other page -Part 1 title page- is unattached but present, see photos), all other pages seem present. Generally though the pages seem attached OK, some gentle handling needed as with many popular books from this era. FEP has small indent of earlier pencilled price but not especially evident. Cover retains its picture by Countess Hamon clearly, and the spine is… Read More

A beautiful copy of this rare item, and in unusually excellent condition. This is the one-volume first UK edition published by New English Library in 1975 in London. All aspects are first rate (see photos ). The slipcase is often missing or damaged, but here it is excellent: just the vaguest sense of rubbing and slight sunning fade to spine, but totally tight, clean and intact. Book itself: pages are crisp, clean and bright: no markings, tanning or inscriptions, almost as new. DJ is complete and excellent with just the slightest edge wearing and possibly a little sunning on spine. Overall, this is a tremendous version of this rare copy, it has obviously been well looked after since day one. **this item may require an additional POSTAGE charge (at cost) depending on your location as it is a heavy item: if so, I will be clear to you before I send. Please see all photos of this lovely book, more available on request Many Thanks

Warrick's monumental study into 'direct writing, supernormal photography and other phenomena'. He largely focuses on the supposed gifts of Mrs Ada Emma Deane, much examined among psychical researchers. Warrick was convinced she was the real thing, despite the misgivings of Eric Dingwall and others. A fascinating and well known book, rare in this condition. Contains some 650 illustrations. The pages are tidy and clean with little above the normal age wear. There's a neat inscription on the FEP, from 1945. See all photos of the book. Boards are clean and tidy and spine is completely tight. Just a few minor marks or bumps, minor corner crumpling. All in all a lovely copy. Pp 399 many illustrations

A beautiful copy of the 1975 Weiser edition. Dr Moses Gaster possessed the original text which was potentially a 13th/14th century source (possibly earlier). This was a Hebrew book of magic, the text of which Gaster first published, along with translation and commentary in 1896. His English translation here is followed by the original Hebrew text. Gaster's original document is now in the British Library. This is the third impression from 1975, published by Weiser. Pages are remarkably clean and bright, not a single apparent mark, crease, inscription, tanning or foxing. If anything the top edges have the slightest of age wear. Boards are tight and clean. The very slightest fraying at the base of the spine and a miniscule amount of bending in the bottom corners. But all in all a remarkable copy. Please see all photos, which are of the actual copy for sale. This book is rare in any condition but exceedingly so in this state. No DJ, as published

Harry Price's classic examination of poltergeist cases. Price was a magician and conjuror, but most famous for his investigations into the paranormal. This is the first edition and in very good condition. Rare in this state. Pages are clean, just a little natural browning here and there. No inscriptions. FEP has a little nicking at top right page. No real foxing or spotting at all. Boards are firm, and very good just a little normal impact at corners and a few inevitable small scratches and scrapes. No DJ. See all photos. A really nice copy of this famous and scarce work.

A wonderful copy. A substantial work by famous author on such themes, Manly P Hall. The book explores themes underlying ancient mythology, philosophy, and religion. A huge range of topics. There is confusion on book site about the editions around this time, and the (often stock) photos that accompany them. This is the Golden Anniversary Reduced Facsimile of 1977, with all black & white plates. A bit of the confusion comes as the text promises colour plates, but this is not the case in this edition. Please see all photos here which are of this actual edition on sale. The pages are excellent: bright and clean and uncreased. Three minor points to mention: there is an old small bookshop label on the FEP (see photos) this is almost off and will probably come away if desired. There is a small stamp of a date on the first (blank) page, again see photos. Finally, a neat small ex-libris stamp on the title page (see photos). However otherwise the pages are in the best condition we've seen in this title: the… Read More

Garnett's translations of Greek folk verses and songs, along with Stuart-Glennie's additional essays. This is the 2 Volume first edition from 1896. A very nice copy. Both volumes have clear and unmarked rough cut pages, just the odd patch of spotting here and there. Boards are clean with just normal minor shelf wear and corner impacts. Spines both very tight. See all photos - we don't use stock photos, all pictures are of the actual edition for sale

A very nice first edition of Carrington's book, with DJ and rare thus. Hereward Carrington was one of the UK's most well known researchers into psychic and related phenomena. Here, he recounts some of his strangest experiences during his long career, and includes encounters with Aleister Crowley, among others. Book is VG+/VG. Pages are excellent: bright, crisp, clean with no apparent markings or inscriptions and no staining or creasing. Just a slight tanning on FEPs and age related dusting and slight spotting on top edges, but really lovely. Boards are clean and tight. There is a slight 'give' or 'lean' to the spine but not affecting the overall integrity of the book. DJ is unclipped and intact: a previous owner has covered it in a form plastic tape-wrapper. This is not a removable covering, however neither is it attached to the book, only to the wrapper itself for protection. And the DJ itself is clearly in a very good state: unclipped and with just some minor shelf wear and minimal impacts. Overall… Read More

A rare copy of Thierens' classic work on the history and meaning of the tarot. This is the first edition from 1930 (date as assumed, no actual date in text which is the case for this edition). Pages very good for their age, just normal age wear and some foxing spots on text edge. No inscriptions or markings seen. Possibly a FEP cut out, though nothing seems missing so potentially just a stub/remnant of paper. Original errata slip still present at p13. Binding is tight. DJ (rarely present) is very good, no major tears or clippings just a little minor creasing and tanning. Rear DJ cover has a wonderful list of related Rider books from the time. Boards are clean and tight. Remarkably good. See photos which are as ever of the actual copy for sale.

Exceptionally good first edition of Van Buren's Lord of the Flame, examining some of the great mysteries in Earth's history. Very rare to see in this wonderful condition. Pages are clean and bright: no inscriptions, no markings, no tanning or foxing at all. No notes, underlining or highlighting. No creases or tears noticed. Pages are superb. Binding tight. DJ is lovely: clean, unclipped, no issues beyond the most minor age wear. This edition often has crumpled corners but not this copy, corners are very good. Spine is not faded. Original barcode sticker on back cover (possibly removable). Undoubtedly the best copy of this edition we have seen. Pp 285 many illustrations. See photos all of which are of the copy for sale, we don't use stock photos. More photos available on request

A lovely copy of the first edition of Van Buren's classic book on Rennes le Chateau. Undoubtedly one of the most unique and fascinating books on the famous mystery village. A beautiful copy. Pages are clean and bright with no markings or inscriptions. The fore edge has literally one or two hardly visible microscopic spots. All illustrations including the pull-out are in an excellent state, including photos of all the famous stations of the cross at the Church. The added in errata slip is present on opening pages (often missing). DJ is unclipped and very good with only the most minor age wear visible. A small tidy neat sticker from a previous owner is on front flap, and a very small handwritten label '150 F' (Francs) is on the back cover. Both barely detract from the quality of the DJ, and both are potentially removable. Spine is tight. A really excellent copy, the best we have seen of the first edition, many have moisture and foxing issues but not this one! An essential copy for Rennes le Chateau… Read More

A very nice first edition of occultist, writer and theologian Hall's work on the Old Testament, an expansion of part of his earlier work 'Keys to Bible Interpretation'. This copy is unusually good condition. Pages are clean with none of the notes which mar many copies. Natural tanning to page extremities throughout, but no other markings except a neat stamp of the book's UK seller (The Aquarian Book Service) on FEP (see photo). Binding totally tight. Boards are clean and unmarked. DJ is unclipped and -again - unmarked by notes which are often seen on the flaps. There is minor shelf wear and a little tanning (for example to spine), and a small mark on cover (possibly from a stained finger or two, potentially removable, were haven't tried), otherwise a first rate DJ. All in all a really good copy of the first edition. See photos, all of which are of the copy for sale, we don't use stock photos. More photos on request, thanks!

A nice copy of the 2nd edition (1947) of Manly Hall's supplement to his Secret Teachings of All Ages. In it, he looks to develop a philosophic code based on thousands of years of esoteric knowledge. Pages are remarkably good: save for a very small neat inscription on FEP, all pages are bright and clean. No notes, tanning or foxing. Rare as such for this edition. Binding is tight. Boards are clean, bright and uncrumpled. DJ is intact and original colours nicely retained. There are a couple of small missing segments (see photos ), one at top left of cover into top off spine, the other at base of rear cover. Other than that, some rubbing, creasing and shelf wear but overall still good (and the presence of the DJ in any state in this edition is rare). A little give to the spine but nothing which detracts from the overall quality of the book. See photos, all of which are of the copy for sale, we don't use stock photos. More photos on request, thanks!

An exceedingly rare, lovely copy of the 1970 Rider/Aquarian edition (first thus) of Lewis Spence's classic book on Atlantis. With a very good unclipped dust jacket, and pages which are immaculate. Spence was a Scottish folklorist and occultist, and became well known for his works on folklore, myths, legends and the occult in general. A well educated journalist, Spence researched and wrote about a range of related themes, and while he's become seen as a forerunner to many more modern writers of this ilk, he was more serious and disciplined in his approach. He looks at Atlantis and its arcane traditions of magic, alchemy, astrology and witchcraft. Largely dismissed by some as pseudo-science, Spence's book was nevertheless an important contribution to populist occult and esoteric literature. This copy is exceptionally good. Pages are bright, crisp and clean, pretty much immaculate. NOT ex-library. NO inscriptions, markings, highlighting or notes. No foxing or noticeable browning. Fore and top edges are… Read More