Watkins Books
Watkins Books is London's oldest esoteric bookshop specializing in esotericism, mysticism, occultism, oriental religion and contemporary spirituality.[1] The book store was established by John M. Watkins, a friend of Madame Blavatsky, in 1897 at 26 Charing Cross. John Watkins had already been selling books via a catalogue which he began publishing in March 1893.[2] The first biography of Aleister Crowley mentions that Crowley made all of the books in Watkins disappear and magically reappear.[3]
Geoffrey Watkins (1896–1981) owned and managed the store after his father.[4] He was also an author[5] and publisher, with notable books including first publishing Carl Gustav Jung's 1925 edition of Septem Sermones ad Mortuos.[6]
In 1901, Watkins Books moved to 21 Cecil Court where it has been continuously trading ever since. It publishes a magazine called the Watkins' Mind Body Spirit magazine, which has featured leading authors from mind-body-spirit and esoteric fields. The Spring 2011 issue ranks the worlds top 100 most spiritually influential living people.[7][8] Watkins Books has been owned by Etan Ilfeld since March 2010.[9] Since then, a new website has been launched, and the store regularly hosts book launches and signings. Additionally, the Watkins website has integrated a spiritual map of London that everyone is invited to contribute to. Watkins Books has also published a free Mind Body Spirit app that is available on the iPhone/iPad and Android devices. [10]
[edit] Further reading
- Fodor, Nandor; Shepard, Leslie; Spence, Lewis (1991). Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsychology. Detroit, Mich: Gale Research Inc. pp. 1792. ISBN 0-8103-4916-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=edctAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Watkins+Books%22&dq=%22Watkins+Books%22&output=html.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.westendextra.com/news/2010/apr/us-film-producer-supplies-magic-save-occult-bookshop
- ^ Watkins Review, Issue 24, June 2010
- ^ Page 268, 1952 edition of The Great Beast by John Symonds
- ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/geoffrey-watkins
- ^ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3403804790.html
- ^ http://www.philipcoppens.com/jung.html
- ^ http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/the-watkins-review-announces-its-spiritual-100-list-1418721.htm
- ^ http://www.watkinsbooks.com/review/watkins-spiritual-100-list
- ^ Kindred Spirit, Issue 109
- ^ http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mind-body-spirit-books-by/id463439169?mt=8
