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by S. L. MacGregor Mathers (Author), L. W. De Laurence (Editor), Dennis Logan (Editor)
A Modern Rendering of the 15th Century Grimoire, With an Introduction, Commentary, and Appendix by Dennis Logan
The Greater Key of Solomon remains the most enduring manual of ceremonial magic in the Western tradition. Though attributed by legend to King Solomon, it is the result of centuries of transmission, translation, and adaptation. This fifteenth-century grimoire unites biblical invocation, liturgical prayer, and precise ritual instruction, all rooted in the worldview of medieval and Renaissance ceremonial practice.
This edition restores the classic 1918 L.W. de Laurence text, itself drawn from the English translation of S.L. MacGregor Mathers, with careful attention to both fidelity and readability. Every trace of commercial advertising and self-promotion from the de Laurence printing has been removed, leaving only the substance of the grimoire. It is presented with a newly written introduction and commentary, offering historical framing that distinguishes the Greater Key from the Lesser Key, an explanation of its pseudepigraphal nature, and a consideration of its true place in the history of magic. The commentary also addresses the need for grounding and discernment, drawing upon Johan Weyer's early observations on the link between spiritual delusion and mental illness, and reflecting on the long-standing commercial trade in magical tools that has surrounded works of this kind. Special attention is given to the seals and talismans of the Key, warning against their casual public display and emphasizing the traditional requirement for secrecy.
To aid the serious reader, every biblical verse referenced in the work has been reproduced in full in the appendix, providing immediate access to the sacred texts that inform its structure and spirit.
This is a carefully prepared edition, created to preserve the dignity of the original while giving the modern reader the historical, theological, and practical context needed to engage with it wisely. It is a work for the student of ceremonial magic, the scholar of religious history, and the artist in search of authentic inspiration, offering both a faithful presentation of the text and an illumination of the tradition from which it came.
