SORCERY FOR SALE

If you have read anything about Howard Phillips Lovecraft and his works you will be most certainly aware of his fictional creation, The Necronomicon, the legendary grimoire of black sorcery by the fictional "Mad Arab", Abdul Alhazred. But wait -- many believe that this book is no mere fictional invention and is instead an authentic magical relic, written by a real Arab poet, that was discovered and unleashed upon an unsuspecting Mankind.

The story goes that Alhazred spent 10 years alone in the great southern desert of Arabia where he received information about evil non-terrestrial entities who lurked unseen, waiting to strike and devour hapless victims. Alhazred wrote of these beings in his al-Azif, which later became known in the West as The Necronomicon.

To the non-believers. Alhazred and his book are indeed, fictitious, as the name "Abdul Alhazred" is not an authentic Arabic name. In response to this assertion, some would say that this is just another ploy in the tale of a man who was eventually torn limb from limb from the demons that he exposed in retribution for his unwise deed.

Currently available from Weiser Antiquarian Books is one of 666 copies printed of the first edition of The Necronomicon. Simon, the editor of the book is thought to be Peter Levenda, the actual author as well. Levenda, specializes in conspiracy theories, occult Nazism, hidden government, and of course, H.P. Lovecraft.

Here is the description of the copy for sale from Weiser:

SIMON, Edits and Introduces. [ Stephen Skinner association copy ].

The Necronomicon.

New York: Schlangekraft Inc. / Barnes Graphics, 1977. First edition, Limited. Hardcover. Quarto. lvi + 222pp. Original full black leather, ornately lettered in silver on spine, with silver title and decorations on front cover. All edges silver. Black and white diagrams. Black ribbon page marker. Edition limited to 666 numbered copies, this being no. 308. The First printing of the best-known edition of the mythical Necronomicon, this copy SIGNED by the publisher L. K. Barnes on the Acknowledgment page. With the distribution label of Stephen Skinner's "Askin Publishers" on the verso of the title page. This copy from the library of occult scholar Stephen Skinner with his ownership signature on the dedication page. This copy also has Skinner's Askin Publishers distribution sticker on copyright page. One of the nicest copies we have seen, with just a match-head sized scratch to the leather of the front board, a touch of toning to pages and a very few scattered spots of browning. Otherwise near Fine condition. Item #57499

Price: $875.00

EXTRA: Shown below is an ad for "Simon's Necronomicon" seen in a 1981 issue of the TWILIGHT ZONE magazine.