HESSE

On one side of a piece of vellum, dimensions 25 x 35 cm. Neatly folded to make eight rectangles. Red wax under paper in top left-hand corner, embossed with the royal seal. Above this is the King's signature, in what Rawlins ('Four Hundred Years of British Autographs', p.53, no.4) describes as 'un uncommon form'. Three blue 2s 6d stamps in left-hand margin. Small paper stamp on the reverse, which is docketed 'James Paterson Gent: | Lieutenant | In the Sixty Ninth Regiment of Foot commanded by Colonel Colvill.-' Text entirely legible on lightly discoloured vellum.

Wortmann - whose 'Das Gesetz Des Kosmos' (1965) is considered a cosmological masterpiece - corresponded with Hermann Hesse, and was the only modern author to be described by him as a master of the Glass Bead Game. The Sacred Science Institute in America is presently working with Wortmann's family to bring out an edition of his work. The collection is discoloured with age and some leaves are slightly dog-eared, but the whole is in good condition.

80 pages. 16mo. In grubby decorated boards with white paper printed label on front. Corners bumped. Internally sound and tight, with a few pencil notes on front pastedown.