The 6th and 7th book of Moses

The 6th and 7th book of Moses, English 1880 1st Ed

The 6th and 7th book of Moses AKA Das sechste und siebente Buch Mosis, Das sechste und siebente Buch Mosis, das ist: Mosis magische Geisterkunst, das Geheimniss aller Geheimnisse. Sammt den verdeutschten Offenbarungen und Vorschriften wunderbarster Art der alten weisen Hebräer, aus den Mosaischen Büchern, der Kabbala und den Talmud zum leiblichen Wohl der Menschen. Wort- und bildgetreu nach alten Handschriften mit 42 Tafeln, The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses. Or Moses' Magical Spirit-Art, known as the Wonderful Arts of the Old Wise Hebrews, taken from the Mosaic Books of the Cabala and the Talmud, for the Good of Mankind. Translated from the German, Word for Word, according to Old Writings. With Numerous Engravings, etc.

Origin: This is a "real" tome originating from 18th Century Germany (like similar folk-magic tomes)

Description

An 18th- or 19th-century grimoire of German-American folk magic allegedly written by Moses, and passed down as hidden (or lost) books of the Christian Old Testament. A text of magical incantations and seals, it purports to instruct the reader in the spells used to create the miracles portrayed in the Bible. The work was printed with annexes of reputed Talmudic magic names, words and incantation, many taken from Christian biblical passages. It shows diagrams of "Seals": magical drawings accompanied by incantations intended to perform various tasks, from controlling weather or people to contacting the dead or Christian religious figures.

Copies have been traced to 18th-century German pamphlets, but an 1849 printing, aided by the appearance of the popular press in the 19th century, spread the text through Germany and Northern Europe to German Americans and eventually helped popularize the texts among African Americans in the Southern United States and the Caribbean and Anglophone West Africa. It influenced European Occult Spiritualism as well as folk religion in the American South (Hoodoo), the Caribbean, and West Africa. Later in the 19th century it was part of collected works together with Little Book of the Roma.

Das sechste und siebente Buch Mosis

Language: German, 1849

Physical Description: The 154-page volume measures approximately 4.25" x 6", bound in half leather with marbled boards, containing numerous illustrations as well as fold-out plates. The book is solidly bound, showing external age/wear, with some rubbing to boards and spine; remnants of paper dust jacket flaps are adhered to the endpapers; the pages are age-toned and show light foxing throughout.

General Content: An early edition of a magical text allegedly written by Moses and passed down as hidden (or lost) additions to the Five Books of Moses or Pentateuch, it purports to instruct the reader in the spells used to create the miracles portrayed in the Bible. The work was printed with annexes of reputed Talmudic magic names, words and incantation, many taken from Christian biblical passages. Its illustrations show diagrams of "Seals": magical drawings accompanied by incantations intended to perform various tasks, from controlling weather or people to contacting the dead or Christian religious figures.

The 6th and 7th book of Moses (English Translation)

Language: English, 1880

Physical Description: 190-page octavo hardcover volume with boards bound in sky-blue linen printed with black text and seal, and a cream/partchement-coloured paper dustjacket, the binding has been reinforced with two staples apparently by the original publisher; bookplate in front endpaper pastedown, pencil notation to rear end page and small pen notation to rear endpaper pastedown; slight browning of pages and a musty smell from storage, but pages are intact and internals are clean and tight with many black and white illustrations of seals and talismans.

General Content: An early edition of a magical text allegedly written by Moses and passed down as hidden (or lost) additions to the Five Books of Moses or Pentateuch, it purports to instruct the reader in the spells used to create the miracles portrayed in the Bible. The work was printed with annexes of reputed Talmudic magic names, words and incantation, many taken from Christian biblical passages. Its illustrations show diagrams of "Seals": magical drawings accompanied by incantations intended to perform various tasks, from controlling weather or people to contacting the dead or Judeo-Christian religious figures.

Quotes

• "The Ninth Table of the Spirits of Venus makes one beloved in all respects and makes known secrets through dreams. Its spirits also assist liberally in all kinds of business...."
• "The Helmet of Moses and Aaron: Hiebel mare actitas barne donene ariaerch. These are the names which the old Egyptians used instead of the un­utterable name of Asser Criel, and are called 'The Fire of God', and 'Strong Rock of Faith'. Whoever wears them on his person, on a gold plate, will not die a sudden death...."
• "Magical Law of Moses: Aila himel adonaij amara Zebaoth cadas yeseraije haralius. These words are terrible, and will assemble devils or spirits, or they will cause the dead to appear...."
• "The Seals or General Characters of the Seven Great Princes of Spirits must be written upon virgin parchment, with the blood of butterflies, at the time of full moon; besides this, know that the Seven Great Princes of Spirits have among them some of the legions of crown-spirits which were expelled from Heaven..."

Appearances

• setting: Folk Mythos

Keeper Notes; Heresies and Controversies

• Best used in folksy, rural, country-folk type settings, especially among the Pennsylvania Dutch and perhaps Scots-Irish hill-folk (though these latter might be slightly more inclined to view this sort of thing as witchcraft).

Mythos Content Spells:

• Sanity Loss:
• Mythos Knowledge:
• Occult Knowledge:

References

• Read the tome at Esoteric Archives: The 6th and 7th book of Moses