The Lost Keys of Masonry Signed by Manly P. Hall on His 22nd Birthday (March 18, 1923)

Manly P. Hall

Edité par Privately Published by The Author, Los Angeles, 1923

The Lost Keys of Masonry by Manly P. Hall

Publishing: 1923 Privately Printed 'Special Students Edition'

Signed and inscribed by Manly P. Hall on the title page: ?With best wishes, Manly P. Hall, March 18, 1923.? The inscription is dated on Hall?s 22nd birthday, the same month the work was issued, giving this copy a particularly unique and desirable point of interest.

Often regarded as something of a ?grail? among Manly P. Hall collectors, this is one of Hall?s earliest publications and is notoriously difficult to locate. It belongs to the small group of early works that circulated primarily among his students before the founding of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), during a period when Hall maintained a much stricter system for distributing his writings.

On the final page Hall lists additional booklets available only ?upon application?noting that they were not sold but could be obtained through voluntary contributions to help cover the cost of production. The Lost Keys of Masonry belongs to this small group of early works that could be secured only through that application process.

Rare. The last known signed copy to appear at auction realized over $10,000 in September 2024.

This title has long been surrounded by a certain aura of mystery and misunderstanding, largely stemming from claims that Manly P. Hall revealed ?too much? about Freemasonry and that his knowledge of the subject; remarkable for someone only 22 years old, led to controversy. It is often repeated that Hall was later given an ?honorary? Masonic degree and never wrote on the subject again. However, after speaking directly with the lodge it was confirmed that Hall did in fact pass through the regular degree process like any other candidate. The confusion arises from the term ?honorary,? which is commonly associated with the 33° in Scottish Rite Masonry. After becoming a Mason, Hall largely refrained from writing about the subject in detail.

Condition: original textured paper covered boards, title and full colored scarab with gold embellishments on the cover, some edgewear with paperloss primarily around the corners, signed and inscribed by Hall on opposite side of ffep, overall in Very Good condition. N° de réf. du vendeur ABE-1773282091613

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : The Lost Keys of Masonry Signed by Manly P. ...
Éditeur : Privately Published by The Author, Los Angeles
Date d'édition : 1923
Reliure : Couverture rigide
Etat : Assez bon
Signé : Signé par l'auteur
Edition : Edition originale