Bibliography of Astrology Page 154:
Raphael I – Raphael III

Raphael^[1] – for:

• Smith, Robert Cross, see under Raphael I
• Palmer, John, see under Raphael II
• Medhurst, see under Raphael III;
• Cross, Robert Thomas, see under Raphael VI
• [the anonymous false American Raphael of the 1840s], see under Pseudo-Raphael
• Borrill, Albert, see under Raphael, Albert

Raphael I (Smith, Robert Cross)^[2]:

• Raphael ‘The Familiar Astrologer; An Easy Guide to Fate, Destiny, & Foreknowledge, as well as to the Secret and Wonderful Properties of Nature: Containing Also A simple, easy, and infallible Guide to the Foreknowledge of the future Fate and Destiny of any individual, by means of the “Reign of the Planets,” the Hour of their Birth, and other Methods not requiring difficult calculations. The curious Art of discovering future Events, by Lots or Points, interspersed with the Horoscopes of Eminent and Remarkable Characters, both living and dead. Secrets relating to Nativities for the learned in Astrological Lore. Strange and Marvellous Tales, Legends, and Traditions, relating to Ghosts, Apparitions, Angels, Spirits, Demons, Witches, Fairies, &c. &c. Ancient Traditions relating to Charms, Spells, Enchantments, and the mysterious properties of Herbs, Stones, and Roots; with Directions for forming Talismans, Amulets, and other wonderful yet powerful Agents in the operations of Nature. Charms relating to All-hallow Eve and Saint John’s Night, and others said to cause Love, Hatred, Good-fortune, & c. Ancient Practice of raising Spirits explained. Charms to discover Theft and punish the Thief. Rare and curious Secrets in Natural Philosophy. Art of Interpreting Dreams and Visions. Marvellous and Wonderful Prophecies. Eplanation of Omens, Soothsaying, Ancient Augury, Sibylline Books, and Divination of various kinds &c. &c. &c. With a Variety of the Most Valuable and Interesting Matter, Not to be Found in Any Work of the Past or Present Time’ Printed for John Bennett, Three-Tun Passage, Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row, London, and sold by all booksellers, 1835^[3]. Old leather with traces of largely faded decorative gilt-tooled bordering, rebacked with gilt title on raised leather label (outer corners of boards heavily worn, with upper outer corners partly delayering). (4 cm tears to outer edges of first two leaves of table of contents.) [Blue-tinted frontis. ‘Millions of Spiritual Creatures Walk the Earth’] + [1 leaf with integral coloured vignette] + [4] + [pp. v-viii] + [pp. 3-134] + [plate ‘The Witch of Eye’] + [pp. 135-212] + [coloured plate ‘Thomas Perks, Raising a Spirit to his Own Destruction’] + [pp. 213-280]^[4] + [pp. 283-380] + [plate ‘The Alchemical Arcana’] + [pp. 381-402 (1)] + [pp. 401 (2) – 522] + [plate ‘Ancient Superstitions. Palmistry’] + [pp. 523-542] + [plate ‘The World of Spirits’] + [pp. 543-716]

• Raphael ‘The Familiar Astrologer: An Easy Guide to Fate, Destiny, and Foreknowledge, as well as to the Secret and Wonderful Properties of Nature: WIth a Variety of the Most Valuable and Insteresting Matter, Not to be Found in Any Work of the Past or Present Time. Illustrated With Numerous Wood Cuts, and Engravings on Steel’ Printed for T. Noble, 79, Fleet Street, London, 1849^[5]. Custom cloth. (Red pencil marginal lines to p. 86; red pencil underlinings to pp. 373, 376 and 378; first two leaves of table of contents slightly torn.) [Frontis. ‘The Alchemical Arcana’] + [2 leaves] + [1] + [p. vi] + [p. v] + [p. iv] + [pp. vii-viii] + [pp. 3-134] + [plate ‘The Witch of Eye’] + [pp. 135-280] + [pp. 283-287] + [1] (= p. 290, misbound and unnumbered) + [pp. 288-9] + [pp. 291-380] + [plate ‘Millions of Spiritual Creatures walk the earth’] + [pp. 381-402 (1)] + [pp. 401 (2)-614] + [plate ‘The World of Spirits’] + [pp. 615-694] + [plate ‘Thomas Perks Raising a Spirit to his Own Destruction’] + [pp. 695-699] + [p. 706 (1)] + [pp. 701-716]

• Raphael ‘A Manual of Astrology, or the Book of the Stars, Being the Art of Foretelling Future Events, By the Influence of the Heavenly Bodies, In a manner unattempted by any former Author and divested of the Superstitions of the Dark Ages^[6]’ C. S. Arnold, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London, 1828. Modern custom half-leather with gilt title to spine, with paper-covered boards. [Coloured frontis. ‘An Hieroglyphic of the Signs of Heaven’] + [1 leaf inc. coloured vignette] + [4] + [pp. v-x] + [1] + [pp. xii-xiv] + [2] + [pp. 17-108] + [1] + [pp. 110-117 of tables] + [pp. 118-123] + [pp. 124-5 of tables] + [pp. 126-140] + [plate ‘Nativity of the King of England’] + [pp. 141-256]

• Raphael ‘A Manual of Astrology, or the Book of the Stars….’ [Ballantrae Reprint], no place stated, undated^[7]. Laminated card covers. Bound by plastic comb threaded through holes punched in inner margins. [1 leaf] + [illustration] + [2 leaves] + [pp. v-x] + [1] + [pp. xii-xiv] + [2] + [pp.19-108] + [1] + [pp. 110-7 of tables] + [pp. 118-123] + [pp. 124-5 of tables] + [pp. 126-8] + [pp. 129-130 of tables] + [pp. 131-140] + [illustration] + [pp. 141-256]

• Raphael ‘Raphael’s Witch!!! Or the Oracle of the Future, by the Author of the Prophetic Messenger, with Ten Coloured Designs on Copper, by R. Cruickshank and the Author, and a Piece of Music by Blewitt’ William Charlton Wright, Paternoster Row, London, 1831. Half-leather with paper-covered boards. [Large coloured fold-out chart] + [2 leaves] + [pp. 5-24] + [4] + [pp. v-xxiv] + [large coloured fold-out chart] + [pp. xxv-xxvi] + [3] + [pp. 30-132] + 4 + [pp. 133-180] + [2 pages of advertisements]

• Raphael ‘Raphael’s Witch!!! Or the Oracle of the Future, by the Author of the Prophetic Messenger, with Ten Coloured Designs on Copper, by R. Cruickshank & the Author, and a Piece of Music by Blewitt’ Fifth Edition – William Charlton Wright, Warwick Square, London, 1850. Cloth, rebacked with remnants of original cloth spine superimposed over new one. [Large monochrome fold-out chart] + [1 leaf] + 26 + [large monochrome fold-out chart] + [pp. 27-210] + [pp. 211-216 of advertisements] + [pp. 1-4 of advertisements]

• Raphael, Member of the Astronomical Society of London ‘The Royal Book of Dreams. From an Ancient and Curious Manuscript, Which was Buried in the Earth During Several Centuries. Containing One Thousand & Twenty-Four Oracles, Or, Answers to Dreams; By a Curious, Yet Perfectly Facile and Easy Method, Void of All Abstruse or Difficult Calculations; Whereby Any Person of Ordinary Capacity May Discover Those Secrets of Fate, Which the Universal Fiat of All Nations, In Every Age and Clime, Has Acknowledged to be Portended by Dreams and Nocturnal Visions’ Effingham Wilson^[8], Royal Exchange, London, 1830. Original printed paper-covered boards (heavily worn at corners; separated down hinges; outer spine mostly eroded away). (Front board hanging by lower cords only. Frontis. torn across middle and down one vertical joint but without significant loss. Leaves comprising pp. 85-96 largely detached from cords but holding at lower margin for now. Visible separation at inner paper hinge between pp. 96-7.) [Folding monochrome frontis.] + [4] + 47 + [1 leaf] + [pp. 51-161] + [3 pages of advertisements]

• “Raphael”, the London Astrologer, ed. ‘The Royal Book of Fate; Queen Elizabeth’s Oracle of Future Events, From an Illumined Manuscript, Found in the Library of the Unfortunate Earl of Essex, Who Was Beheaded in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth: A Work of the greatest Interest, Curious, Marvellous, and Wonderful, Relating to Love, Marriage, Riches, Dreams Foretold, And All Subjects Of Fate, Chance, And Mortal Destiny. Containing 4090 Correct Answers to numerous important Questions of Human Life, without any Calculations; with a large and extraordinary Frontispiece,containing Sixty-four Engravings on Steel’ Fourth Edition^[9], to Which is Added Raphael’s Nativity, by Zadkiel the Seer, Author of the “Grammar of Astrology” – Published by Sherwood and Co., Paternoster Row; James Cornish, 297 High Holborn, London, and may be had of all booksellers, undated^[10]. Two copies. Both copies: Elaborately patterned cloth. Copy B: Cloth chipped at spine and worn at outer corners of boards. Copy A: [8-panel folding colour frontis.] + [2 single-sided leaves] + [pp. v-xi] + [2] + [pp. xiii-xix] + [1] + [64 numbered double-page spreads, = 128pp] + [pp. 65-8]. Copy B: (lacks frontis.) [2 single-sided leaves] + [pp. v-xi] + [2] + [pp. xiii-xix] + [1] + [64 numbered double-page spreads, = 128pp] + [pp. 65-8]

Raphael II (Palmer)

• Raphael, Author of the “Prophetic Almanac,” published annually ‘Raphael’s Sanctuary of the Astral Art, or Elysium of Astrology: Being a Book for the Boudoir, Drawing-Room Table, and Evening Parties, Containing a Complete Geomantic Cabinet, Illustrated with Emblematical Pictures of the Twelve Celestial Houses; Also, Spirits of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, &c. &c. &c.’ Published by William Charlton Wright, 4, Paternoster Row, London, preface dated 1834. Paper wrappers (light wear to upper margin of front cover). [Very large 15-panel monochrome^[11] fold-out frontis. entitled ‘A Diagram of the 12 Celestial Houses of Heaven’ (three-inch lateral tear to inner margin, repaired with browned clear tape; 4 cm tear to inner edge of another horizontal fold; 1 cm tear to foot of one vertical fold)] + [4] + [p. v] + [pp. vi-vii of advertisements] + [1] + [pp. 3-220]

Raphael III (Medhurst)

• Raphael, the Astrologer of the Nineteenth Century, Author of “The Prophetic Messenger,” &c. &c. (Reprinted by) ‘Raphael’s Pythoness of the East; or, Complete Key to Futurity. Translated from the original Ms. of the celebrated mystical divining book, formerly in the possession of Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Josephine. – This extraordinary work was consulted by Prince Puckler Muskau and others, during his soujourn in England, with the most astonishing success, and is now submitted to the world as the most surprising and infallible Oracle of Destiny extant’ W. Foulsham & Co., 4, Pilgrim Street, Ludgate Hill, London, 1894^[12]. This copy with former ownership label to front paste-down of Ella N. Woods. Cloth (wear to extremities of spine and outer corners of boards). (Light separation at inner paper hinge between pp. 120-1.) (Pp. 105-8 and 109-12 still joined at top edges: need separating.) [3] + [p. iv] + [2 leaves] + [pp. 9-212] + [4 pages of advertisements]

[1] This name was used by seven successive editors of what started as The Prophetic Messenger and evolved into Raphael’s Almanac. Three of them additionally wrote and / or edited popular books on astrology and / or divination. Additionally, an anonymous author or team produced a work in the name of Raphael in the United States in the 1840s, presumed spurious since it was not published at all in Great Britain. Finally, there was an American astrologer named Albert Borrill operating at the turn of the 19th century under the pseudonym Albert Raphael (sometimes A. Raphael), with offices in London and the United States, who had a couple of books of his own published. To avoid confusion, I have grouped the works attributed to Raphael by author / editor in chronological order, while retaining the author attribution as printed for each entry.

[2] For the publication ‘The Astrologer of the Nineteenth Century’, see under the author heading “Members of the Mercurii”

[3] The 1835 date appears at the foot of the half-title page. The full title page retains a date of 1833, carried over from the previous printing. The dedication is dated November 15, 1831, which corresponds with the earliest printing recorded at the British Library. An 1832 date is claimed by copies held at Cambridge and Glasgow. Evidently the 1835 printing was at least the third or fourth, though all early printings are now rare in the marketplace

[4] The text is continuous from p. 280 to p. 283; the error is in the pagination

[5] This edition is distinguished by all its plates being hand-coloured, although the plates appear to have been misbound at the time of rebinding on this copy, and one plate, ‘Ancient Superstitions’, present in the 1835 edition, is missing from this copy of the 1849 edition. Pages vi, v and iv are labelled correctly but have been printed in the wrong order

[6] The first title page with pictorial vignette is thus. It is followed by a second, more detailed title page reading: “A Manual of Astrology, or the Book of the Stars: Which Contains Every Requisite Illustration of the Celestial Science; or the Art of Foretelling Future Events, By the Influence of the Heavenly Bodies. Comprising: 1. An historical narration of the antiquity and verity of Astrology. 2. Elementary Principles of the Science; comprising a complete system of the Universe according to modern Astronomers. 3. The Natures of the Twelve Signs, the Houses of Heaven, the Planetary Orbs, the Fixed Stars, &c. &c. 4. The art of casting a Figure or Theme of Heaven, or Scheme of Nativity, for any time whatever, by Perpetual Tables. 5. Requisite descriptions of the Zodiacal and Mundane Asects. 6. The Doctrine of Nativities; with select experimental Rules, for foreseeing each particular event, from the cradle of infancy to the tomb of age. 7. The method of working Celestial Directions, both in the zodiac and in mundo. 8. The art of foreknowing the chief events of life by Celestial Periods; a new and important discovery. Also the theory of Progressive Directions. 9. A number of remarkable Horoscopes, evincing the power of the Stars in Life and Death. 10. The art of resolving every important question in the affairs of human life, by the science of Horary Astrology; with the Horoscope of London Bridge, &c. &c. 11. The theory of State Astrology; or the metod used by Astrologers in foretelling the fates of Kingdoms, Thrones, and Empires, exemplified by a prophetic glance at the late Lunar Eclipse. 12. An highly curious extract from an Original Manuscript; communicated by a valuable correspondent, relative to the mystic signatures of the Seven Planets. The whole illustrated and exemplified by various important and appropriate Diagrams, and Three Elegant Engravings”. This page bears the extended publication credit: “Published by C. S. Arnold, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden; Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh; and Westley and Tyrrell, Dublin, London, 1828”

[7] A facsimile reprint, issued early 2000s, of a later early edition of the above work, bearing the imprint “Printed for Thomas Tegg and Son, 73, Cheapside; Sold by Griffin & Co., Glasgow; and R. M. Tims, Dublin, London, 1834” on the main second title page, in place of the original C. S. Arnold imprint. The shorter first title page with vignette appears to have been retained unaltered from the original 1828, complete with the name of the first publisher and the 1828 date. Why it was retained thus is something of a mystery. For the sake of concision, I have avoided duplicating the full first and second title pages in my description of this edition in this catalogue. Their text before the publication details is identical to those on the original 1828 edition shown above. There is no immediately apparent evidence of alteration to the main text of the 1834 edition over the 1828 one either.

[8] Another edition, bearing the same date, and in a decorative cloth binding, but lacking the bi-colour red and black title page, was published by Orlando Hodgson. British deposit libraries carry the Effingham Wilson edition, which can therefore safely be presumed the original one. The Orlando Hodgson edition may have been falsely dated 1830 while in fact being published somewhat later.

[9] NB: Only one earlier edition, published by John Knight in 1829, could be located in British library records, though two Canadian libraries claim to hold incomplete copies of a ‘third edition’ of 1834 also published by Sherwood.

[10] British Library records give 1856. Although this edition was published in 1856, the original edition appeared in 1828 under the stewardship of Smith.

[11] Of three copies witnessed on the second-hand market these past ten years, two have had the frontis. uncoloured (this being one of them), one hand-coloured. It would seem likely that only a limited first issue batch had the frontis. coloured, although there is no evidence of this being a later printing

[12] The original edition (lacking from this collection) was first advertised in the 1838 edition of the Prophetic Messenger as ‘Raphael’s Cabinet of Geomancy’ and finally published in 1838 under the title ‘Raphael’s Pythoness of the East’. It thus falls under the Medhurst era although this later edition, from 1894, was published during the tenancy of Cross.

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