Magica Sexualis: Mystic Love Books of Black Arts and Secret Sciences — Émile Laurent (1934)

A strange and expansive 1934 compendium of occult sexuality, black arts, magical folklore, and esoteric traditions, newly returned to print by Holographic Pagan Press.

Physical edition: The Holographic Pagan Press edition is a handmade softcover book, not a hardcover.

Magica Sexualis: Mystic Love Books of Black Arts and Secret Sciences is Émile Laurent’s wide-ranging study of the magical, folkloric, and occult traditions surrounding love, desire, sexuality, enchantment, and forbidden knowledge.

First issued in English in New York in 1934, the work was translated by Raymond Sabatier and includes an introduction associated with Paul Nagour. Laurent ranges across incubi and succubi, the witches’ sabbath, the Black Mass, werewolves and vampires, magical aphrodisiacs, charms and invocations, sexual symbolism, dreams, music and dance, talismans, demonology, and the mystical philosophy of sexuality through the ages.

This Holographic Pagan Press edition preserves the character and content of the historic edition while presenting the work in a newly prepared, large-format reading edition. The handmade physical edition features purple cardstock, black binding tape, and gold-toned cover artwork.

This is a newly prepared Holographic Pagan Press edition and not an original antique copy.

Handmade edition note: Holographic Pagan Press editions are produced, assembled, and finished by hand in small batches. As a result, minute variations may occur between individual copies, including slight differences in materials, color, binding, trimming, placement, or hand-applied details. Materials may also vary slightly according to availability. We make every effort to preserve the intended design, character, and quality of each edition while allowing for the natural variations inherent in handmade bookmaking.

Title: Magica Sexualis
Subtitle: Mystic Love Books of Black Arts and Secret Sciences
Author: Émile Laurent
English translation: Raymond Sabatier
Original English publication: 1934
Original extent: xix + 274 numbered pages + 22 pages of plates
Formats: Handmade physical book or digital PDF
Physical dimensions: 8.5" × 11"
Cover: Purple cardstock with black binding tape and gold-toned artwork
Interior: Black-and-white
Edition publisher: Odd Enough Books / Holographic Pagan Press
Condition: Newly produced

Historical Note

Magica Sexualis belongs to the early twentieth-century literature of comparative occultism, sexual folklore, ceremonial magic, demonology, and psychical speculation. It is presented here as a historical primary source reflecting the ideas, terminology, and assumptions of its period.