Solomon's Clavis

Another book I was pleased to receive lately, was Solomon's Clavis from the Society for Esoteric Endeavor in England. The Society produces marvellous new prints of old works, some of which are facsimiles of manuscripts, as indeed this work is. The original manuscript is a a copy by Frederick Hockley of a Ms. by Ebenezer Sibley.

The book describes the manufacture of Talismans on Vellum, and indeed these Talismans have been used on the front cover of the books themselves, with a varied selection of different talismans on each copy of the book (One each). For example, one may be a protection against Slavery, another for "secret love". The Talisman "To render a military life happy" may still find use in this age, as when the book was written.

The actual text is a facsimile of Hockley's handwriting, and can be difficult to read (although its fairly legible).

The book is wonderfully bound in sheepskin leather, which has, so I notice, a distinct barnyard aroma, albeit not at all strong or unpleasant. Overall, the standard of production of the book is remarkable, particularily given that the edition is restricted to only 144 copies.

All in all, a rather typical, if rare and scarce version, of a typical grimoire, including talismans, invocations, incenses, skin of virgin kids (as in goats), and all the rest. Different from Mather's "the Key of Solomon".