MALTWOOD: A GUIDE TO GLASTONBURY'S TEMPLE OF THE STARS * RARE 1ST EDITION 1935

Description

[KATHERINE MALTWOOD].
A GUIDE TO GLASONTBURY'S TEMPLE OF THE STARS, ITS GIANT EFFIGIES DESCRIBED FROM AIR VIEW MAPS AND FROM "THE HIGH HISTORY OF THE HOLY GRAAL".
London: The Women's Printing Society Ltd.
FIRST EDITION.
1935.
[8] + 116 pages.
PLATE ILLUSTRATIONS.
Folio size (12 by 10 inch) hardcover, hard cardcovers with cloth to spine & corners.
Some remnants (presumably) of the original d/j pasted front & rear with some acidic tape (SEE PICS), some writing from former owners both front and rear (SEE PICS), o/w light wear to head & base of spine & corners &
VERY GOOD CONDITION.
Though largely discounted today, Katherine Maltwood's discovery of a giant Zodiac traced into the ground in a series of earthworks surrounding Glastonbury and its famous ruined Abbey made quite a stir in the early part of the 20th century.
The moment of this discovery was recounted by her: "I shall never forget my utter amazement when the truth dawned on me that the outline of a lion was drawn by the curves of the Cary river below the old capital town of Somerset. So that was the origin of the legendary lion that I had been questing! A nature effigy and a god of sunworshippers! Leo of the Zodiac ... Obviously, if the lion was a nature effigy then the dragon, griffon and the giants etc., must be likewise; perhaps this was the most thrilling moment of my discovery."
Maltwood herself and many of her subsequent followers attributed the "discovery" to her eye as an artist. I'm not sure, however, what led her to be studying aerial photos of the area in the first place. The "discovery" certainly could not have been made prior to the age of aviation. Her interest in the Holy Graal and her discovered Zodiac later led her to join a female version of Freemasonry and perhaps also some order of Rosicrucianism. She was apparently convinced that the old lore of Freemasonry held a key to the Zodiac and the Arthurian tales.
For some reason this original edition did not contain here name (it is written here in pencil on the title page), though subsequent editions always attributed it to her, as well as her own self-published monograph titled "THE ENCHANTMENTS OF BRITAIN OR KING ARTHUR'S ROUND TABLE OF THE STARS", published in 1944 after the Maltwood's move to Victoria BC.
Eight pages of reviews of the book have been cleverly attached to the front of this copy preceding the title page.
All plates have been collated and accounted for.
CONTENTS:
1.) INTRODUCTION. • 2.) THE EARTH SIGN, VIRGO. • 3.) THE WATER SIGN, SCORPIO. • 4.) THE FIRE SIGN, SAGITTARIUS. • 5.) THE EARTH SIGN, CAPRICORNUS. • 6.) THE AIR SIGN, AQUARIUS. • 7.) THE WATER SIGN, PISCES. • 8.) THE FIRE SIGN, ARIES. • 9.) THE EARTH SIGN, TAURUS. • 10,) THE DOGS. • 11.) ARGO, NAVIS, AND THE GRIFFON. • 12.) ORION THE GIANT.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. • SUBJECT INDEX.
[keywords occult occultism magic magick fairies druids druidism celtic celtica spiritualism mesmerism theosophy theosophical society religion religious mysticism mystical philosophy india indian hindu hinduism buddhist judaism jewish kabbalah cabala qabbalah magic magick fairies druids druidism celtic celtica spiritualism mesmerism theosophy theosophical society hodson religion religious mysticism mystical philosophy devas jin jinn djin djinn spirits sprites elementals shamanism psychedelia entheogens hallicinogenics hallucinogens arthur arthurian literature holy grail sangreal britain british john dee seership angelology demonology witchcraft saxons britons pendragon arthurian romances aligensian crusade cathar heresy knights templars chivalry sword and sorcery fantasy game of thrones]
ALL IN ALL A VERY NICE, FULLY INTACT COPY OF THIS RARE FIRST EDITION.