Crimson Horn Press

NEW acquisition: A second printing/edition of Scot's: The Discoverie of Witchcraft! Major addition. She'll be in our back vaults under lock and key. We're all giddy over this one.

“Reginald ... stands brightly out amid the darkness of its own and the succeeding age, as a perfectly unique example of sagacity amounting to genius…[for the] clearness of his views and the unwavering steadiness of his leanings to the side of humanity and justice.”

– W. T. Gairdner

The 'Picx of Hatuur,' circa 1460-62. Folio #1331 of the Vatican Apostolic Archives.

Fresco/Bas Reliefs of the Bestia Multis Ramis (Cthu-Zaotha) discovered in the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, Caesaraugusta, Spain, c. 1788, by Francisco de Palma. Fragments would be stored in state protection, Boeotia, Greece, until 1946, where they were sent to Italy for show. This lasted until 1949 or 1950.

These are A.I.-enhanced photographs of the originals that are now believed to remain (at least to recent reports) in the secret archives below the Vatican in Rome. However, during the 1950s, they were reportedly shown at the Borghese Gallery and Museum, also in Rome, until the idea of these creatures of mythology had been replaced with a belief that they may have been real or otherwise living. Whichever the truth, they are almost impossible to see unless one knows people in all the right places. Either way, we should hope the legends are merely overheated imaginations, and not true in any way. 😲

Verba ex Libro Vivi


In the vast and mysterious tradition of occult literature, few works have stirred as much speculative scholarship and legend as the Verba ex Libro Vivi—Latin for Words from the Living Book. Purportedly written in the 13th century by an unnamed Carthusian monk who vanished under strange circumstances, this tome has garnered the attention of theologians, cryptographers, alchemists, and arcane historians for centuries. Its title alone evokes unease and curiosity: a book that lives, that speaks, that grows. Unlike other ancient manuscripts such as the Picatrix or the Key of Solomon, Verba ex Libro Vivi is believed to be semi-sentient—capable not just of revealing knowledge but of selecting the reader it wishes to enlighten—or devour.
The first known mention of Verba ex Libro Vivi appears in the marginalia of a 15th-century codex housed in the Vatican Archives (Codex Vaticani 4189), where a monk known only as "Brother E.G." writes: "The Book of Living Words is not to be read but endured. It speaks through symbols, through dreams, through the uncanny echo in silent places." Since then, scattered references to the book have surfaced in obscure European collections, suppressed grimoires, and, more recently, in fringe academic symposiums on esoteric studies.

Contents and Structure

The structure of Verba ex Libro Vivi is anything but traditional. Rather than chapters or organized sections, the book is said to contain over 300 folios of glyphs, shifting Latin phrases, and anatomical diagrams that morph depending on the time of day. Eyewitnesses claim that words appear faintly, as if beneath the vellum itself, only becoming legible when exposed to candlelight or the reader’s blood. Each page allegedly contains a “living sentence”—a cryptic line that aligns uncannily with the mental state or subconscious fears of its reader.
Linguists and semioticians who have attempted to analyze the book speak of a fusion of medieval Latin, Enochian sigils, and proto-Aramaic syntax. Dr. Mirabelle Thorne of the (fictional) University of Wessex described it as "a manuscript that reads the reader more accurately than the reader can interpret it." In her controversial 2021 paper, Symbolic Feedback in Magical Texts: A Case for the Living Book Hypothesis, she notes that prolonged exposure to the book correlates with altered cognitive patterns, increased symbolic hallucinations, and a tendency to speak in tongues.
Thematically, the book is organized around what some scholars call the Five Living Truths:

1. Vita est Verbum – Life is the Word.
2. Sanguis Sapientiae – Blood is the Path to Wisdom.
3. Lux Ex Tenebris – Light from Darkness.
4. Audire Cordis – To Hear with the Heart.
5. Mutatio Aeternitatis – Transformation is Eternity.

These aphorisms, repeated in different permutations throughout the text, seem to be keys—perhaps metaphysical or psychological—for unlocking different “layers” of the manuscript. Readers claim that returning to the same page at different stages in their life produces entirely new content, as if the book itself evolves in tandem with human experience.

Alleged Origins and Theories

There is no consensus regarding the origin of Verba ex Libro Vivi. Some propose it was a lost Hermetic text, corrupted and reconstituted by medieval monks. Others believe it to be an early experiment in grimoire psychotechnology—where the book was designed as both a ritual tool and a spiritual entity. Perhaps the most controversial theory comes from Dr. Samuel Harwick (The Bavarian Institute for Occult History), who suggests the book was not written by humans at all but "received" through automatic writing during trance states induced by fasting and isolation.
Harwick goes further to assert that the manuscript might be a fragment of a larger compendium known only as Corpus Solis Insoni, a rumored pre-deluge codex said to contain the knowledge of the Watchers and Nephilim. In his 2018 monograph Children of the Bookless Dawn, Harwick presents side-by-side comparisons of symbols in Verba ex Libro Vivi and cave glyphs found in Anatolia, claiming a linguistic echo that predates written language.

Cultural Impact and Suppression

Despite its obscurity, the Verba ex Libro Vivi has had a ripple effect in occult and artistic circles. The Symbolist painter Elias Brecht credited the book as the inspiration behind his controversial 1892 painting The Whispering Flame, a piece banned in several countries for its unsettling effect on viewers. In modern times, the book is referenced in the lyrics of the experimental metal band Revenant Reliquary and is said to have been used in the set design for the indie horror film Ex Oblivione (2014).
Yet, with influence comes danger. Several institutions, including the fictitious Arcanum Collegium of Prague, have sealed known copies of the book, citing unexplained incidents of madness, religious delusions, and even spontaneous combustion. One former librarian, whose name was redacted in a now-declassified (yet entirely fictional) case file from the “London Occult Observation Bureau,” claimed the book hissed when ignored and purred when read aloud.

Accolades and Academic Reception

While controversial, the Verba ex Libro Vivi has received recognition in various academic and esoteric circles:

• Winner of the 2022 Eibon Foundation Medal for Occult Textual Studies – “For advancing our understanding of metaphysical interactivity between manuscript and reader.”
• Featured in the 2023 Global Symposium on Magical Cognition in Lisbon, Portugal, where a redacted folio of the book was used in a closed psychological experiment.
• Praised by the fictional Journal of Comparative Esotericism as “a haunting example of proto-AI embedded in medieval form—organic computation via symbolic recursion.”
• Endorsed by the (fictitious) International Guild of Occult Bibliophiles, which called it “The Rosetta Stone of personal apocalypse.”
The book has also inspired dozens of fictional dissertations, including:
• “Living Syntax: The Psychoacoustic Effect of Verba ex Libro Vivi on Monastic Chant” by Br. Anselm Croft, Oxford (fictional).
• “The Ouroboros Codex: Recursive Ontology in Living Grimoires” by Dr. Caelum Derris, University of Reykjavik (fictional).
• “The Whisper of Ink: Neurolinguistic Anomalies in Cursed Manuscripts” by Lydia Hsien, Columbia Esoteric Studies Program (fictional).

Final Thoughts

Whether the Verba ex Libro Vivi is a cursed manuscript, a sentient experiment in pre-modern consciousness, or merely a remarkable forgery of the late Middle Ages, its existence continues to baffle and provoke those who seek it. Readers who have dared to engage with it report uncanny synchronicities, dreams that bleed into waking life, and a sense of being watched—not by the book’s guardian, but by the book itself.
As Dr. Thorne once noted in a hushed interview for Arcane Horizons Magazine, “The book asks nothing. It simply waits. And when you read it, it reads you back. Some survive the mirror. Others vanish into it.” Thus, Verba ex Libro Vivi remains a work that cannot be wholly described, only encountered—and remembered, if one is fortunate.

https://crimsonhornpress28.my.canva.site/marketing-portfolio-and-resume-website-in-black-and-white-neon-green-professional-style/ -PB1xhvMHWfcRxtZX

The Testament of Solomon: Fact or Fiction?

For personal insight, I am including a link to a pdf I feel will best illustrate the legend as it is. While many feel it is a medieval rendition, we here at the Crimson Horn Press feel it is a genuine transcribed article of actual events. Here is the link:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f6e1fb02827913871797e3b/t/65862cdb080fe21a3afff594/1703292125527/Testament+Of+Solomon+-+Conybeare+-+1898.pdf

A little advice from the late, great Sir Christopher Lee (1922-2015)

"You'll not only lose your mind, but you'll lose your soul" | Christopher Lee on the occult Sir Christopher Lee at University College Dublin, discusses rumours of his extensive occult library and black magic.http://www.ucd.ie/news/2011/11NOV11/0...L...

Here's a brief look into the history of grimoires and other books of magick. Look, collect, or research, but never practice. Fair warning.

Most Powerful Forbidden Books of All Time For those interested in the occult and in magical rituals, grimoires are objects of profound importance. These are not just any books; they are compendiums t...

Crimson Horn Press, originally called The Vermiculus Horn Freeth Press from 1690 to 1788, was founded by Richard Henry Jenkinson, a wealthy landowner from Danvers, Massachusetts. He began his venture by creating and distributing common flyers and small booklets to the masses, ranging from religious and Biblical quotations to poetry and farming advice, and even recipes and cooking techniques for women of the day. It finally culminated in a worthy practice with the local government, serving as a way to post decrees, mandates, and orders as seen by the governor and his staff.

Using a simple wooden and iron-fitted, hand-operated press, not unlike a ‘Washington’ type press, Jenkinson and his two sons, Archibald and Grayson, would carry on the family hobby of printing books, pamphlets, and other printed materials for such institutions as Harvard College in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Collegiate School in Connecticut Colony and King Williams’ in the Provance of Maryland. By 1733, the Jenkinson family would use an intaglio press and grow to a staff of eight, turning a hobby into a rather lucrative business. This would continue until the patriarch died of scarlatina on 30 June 1788. The two sons, Archibald and Grayson, would sell the business to what is now Harvard University. The press would go on functioning as normal until 1856, when it was sold to a private collector from the Town of Independence, Virginia.

It is in the spirit of Richard Henry Jenkinson that the name Crimson Horn Press was created. It serves as a dedication to the arts and the free spirit of the original colonists that helped make this great nation what it is today. As of 17 November 1991, Crimson Horn Press serves as a private repository for antiquated books, periodicals, and rare printings, including Bibles, concordances, and books of a more nefarious nature. Whether original or facsimiles of such works as the Grimorium Verum, Book of Abramelin, the Arbatel de Magia Veterum, and the Ghayat al Hikam, we also retain highly sought-after books such as a 16th-century version of the Liber Juratus Honorii, as well as a 17th-century copy of the Verba ex Libro Vivi, and even several fragments of the dreaded Kitab Al Azif, by Abdul Alhazred, the so-called Mad Arab of Senna. To date, Crimson Horn Press retains more than six hundred rare books and other printed paraphernalia in our atmosphere-protected vaults

Today, Crimson Horn Press reserves its publishing obligations to a minimum, taking part in scholarly research with the occasional publication of research pertaining to magick and the occult, and other projects we deem important to society. * From time to time, Crimson Horn Press allows for the reviewing of certain books and documents under a guided tour, with the permission of its regents. We reserve the right to display or retain display upon sound judgment, and are not subject to coercion by any governing body.

Crimson Horn Press is a rare book and ancient manuscript repository. We offer a protected, vaulted underground system that offers watertight and atmospheric regulated environments for our collections. Visitations are available by invitation only.

Our docent is available every third Wednesday from 2 P.M. to 3 A.M. Meetings of the E.O.D. and the S.O.R. take place at their convenience. We are located in the old cannery building in Pioneer Square, Seattle, at 213 S. Main Street, situated on the southwest corner of 2nd Avenue S. and S. Main Street.

Thanks to our benefactors, the Esoteric Order of Dagon and the Societas Crucis et Pentalfa (S.o.R.), we have grown in our most revered collections. Here are but a few of Crimson Horn Press’s more notable titles related to 15th-to 17th-century books and related documents on occult magic:

Primary Source Texts (Grimoires and Treatises):

• Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa: This is a key text in the Western magical tradition. It provides a comprehensive explanation of magic and astrology, First Edition(s), 1531 in Paris, Cologne, and Antwerp.
• The Book of Ceremonial Magic: Compiled by Arthur Edward Waite, this work includes key passages from magical texts of the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.
• The Lesser Key of Solomon (Lemegeton): This is a compilation of ancient writings on magic, with parts traced to the mid-16th to 17th centuries, notably involving research by Cornelius Agrippa and Johannes Trithemius.
• Malleus Maleficarum: A manual detailing the investigation and persecution of witchcraft, believed to have influenced the witch trials in Europe during the 16th century.
• Book of Soyga (Aldaraia): A book on magic attributed to John Dee, focused on contacting angels and containing a supposed "language of the angels" known as Enochian.
• The Discoverie of Witchcraft by Reginald Scot: Written in 1584, this work challenged prevailing beliefs about witches and superstition.
• The Key of Solomon: This work was important to Renaissance philosophers and magicians and served as the basis for much of traditional Western magical practices.
• The Zohar: A primary text of Kabbalah, which predates many later Western esoteric traditions.
• Daemonologie by King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England): This work aimed to educate the public on the truth about demons, witches, and magic.
Collections and Catalogs:
These texts and collections provide valuable insights into 16th-century occult magic.
• The Grimoire of Armadel: This book, translated from a 17th-century manuscript, provides instructions and sigils for invoking spirits.
• The Lesser Key of Solomon (or Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis): Compiled in the mid-17th century, this grimoire draws from earlier medieval texts and includes five books on various aspects of magic, such as summoning spirits.
• A true and Faithful Relation of what passed for many yeers between Dr. John Dee ... and some spirits: This book by John Dee details his interactions with spirits, published in 1659.
• Daemonologie: Written by King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) in 1597, this treatise discusses witchcraft, demons, necromancy, and possession.
• Compendium Maleficarum: Published in 1608, this text provides insights into early 17th-century beliefs regarding witchcraft and demonology.
• The Discovery of Witches: Matthew Hopkins' (the "Witchfinder General") account of witch trials during the English Civil War, published in 1647.
Works on 17th-Century Occultism and Magic:
• Religion and the Decline of Magic: Studies in Popular Beliefs in Sixteenth and Seventeenth-Century England: Keith Thomas's analysis of witchcraft, astrology, and magic in 16th and 17th century England.
• A History of Magic and Experimental Science (Volumes 7-8): Lynn Thorndike's multi-volume work, with volumes 7 and 8 focusing on the 17th century.
• The occult laboratory: magic, science, and second sight in late seventeenth-century Scotland: Michael Hunter's study of the occult in 17th-century Scotland, including a new edition of Robert Kirk's The Secret Commonwealth.
• The Archaeology of Magic: Gender and Domestic Protection in Seventeenth-Century New England: C. Riley Augé's archaeological study of magical practice and its relationship to gender in colonial New England.
• The Magical Adventures of Mary Parish: The Occult World of Seventeenth-Century London: Frances Timbers' microhistory of a "cunning woman" in 17th-century London.
The Malleus Maleficarum, though highly influential and relevant to the study of 17th-century witchcraft hysteria, was originally published in 1487.
This section lists various 17th-century grimoires and texts related to magic. These include works focusing on Christian magic with intricate sigils, a London cunning-man's book of charms and conjurations, a treatise on demonology and witchcraft by King James I, an obscure text for conjuring spirits to find treasure, and works exploring the symbolism associated with the Rosicrucian movement. Other texts include a grimoire using Biblical Psalms and a comprehensive table of celestial and magical correspondences.
Academic and Historical Studies:

This section presents scholarly works that analyze magic and occult beliefs in the 17th century. These studies cover topics such as popular magical beliefs in England and their interaction with the Protestant Reformation and the rise of science, investigations into the witch craze, the daily life and practices of "cunning folk", the role of magic in everyday life, and the factors contributing to the decline of magic. There are also surveys of the European witch trials, compilations of ceremonial magic traditions, analyses of 17th-century witch trials and societal beliefs, studies of magic and science in Scotland, and explorations of witchcraft, madness, and religion in Germany.

Other Potentially Relevant Texts (May have 17th Century Connections or Influences):

This section includes texts that, while not exclusively from the 17th century, have connections or influences relevant to the period. These are texts like The Key of Solomon the King, The Lesser Key of Solomon, and The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses, which are based on older traditions but were important in later occult revivals. Also included are historical studies on witchcraft and agrarian cults, witch-hunting in colonial America, the Rosicrucian movement, the Salem witch trials, and the history of magic and science. A work on occult and scientific mentalities in the Renaissance is also listed for broader context.

Collaborators and Friends of Crimson Horn Press:

Please note: The aforementioned collections of these and other related texts on occultism may also be found at select universities and libraries, such as the Hugh Hyde Collection at San Diego State University and the Wellcome Collection in London, UK.
• Dr. John Dee's Library of Alchemical Manuscripts: This is a comprehensive catalog of the alchemical manuscripts held by John Dee.
• The Mirror of Alchemy: This book surveys alchemical ideas and images found in manuscripts and books from antiquity to the 17th century, featuring items from the British Library's collection.
• Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts at the Beinecke Library: The Beinecke Library at Yale University holds a collection of over 300 codices, leaves, and fragments, including the Mellon Alchemical Collection.
• University of Michigan Library's Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts Collection: This collection features a significant number of Greek and Latin manuscripts, some dating back to the 4th century, covering religious texts, classical literature, and medieval medicine.
• Merten J. Mandeville Collection in Parapsychology and the Occult Sciences: Located at the University of Illinois Library, this collection contains over 16,000 items related to parapsychology and the occult sciences, with notable strengths in astrology and witchcraft.
• Cornell University Witchcraft Archives: This collection contains over 3,000 titles related to the history of the Inquisition and the persecution of witchcraft in Europe.

Links & Resources:

Miskatonic Books is an esoteric bookseller specializing in an extensive array of subjects, from demonology and grimoires to the teachings of the Golden Dawn, the enigmatic world of Aleister Crowley, and the mysteries of alchemy. Our collection also encompasses Freemasonry, Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism, Witchcraft, and the gothic, ghostly, and darkly fantastical realms of classic horror and supernatural fiction.

https://www.miskatonicbooks.com/

Peter Harrington Rare Books: A carefully selected group of rare occult books-first editions, signed and inscribed copies, plus deluxe limited editions-describing the mystique of witchcraft, et al.

https://www.peterharrington.co.uk

Esoterica Rare Occult Books: Expertly curated collection of antiquarian volumes on magic, alchemy, mysticism, and the occult.

https://www.esotericaoccultbooks.com

Dark Star Magick - New, Used, Rare Occult Books, Grimoires. Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Dark Star Magick is a trader of fine antiquarian and rare collectible books on esoterica and occultism.

https://darkstarmagick.com

The Rare Book Sleuth. The Rare Book Sleuth is based in Minneapolis, MN, and specializes in first editions, signed books, and notable rarities across a variety of fields.

https://rarebooksleuth.com

AbeBooks: Shop Occult Books and Collectibles. Browse and buy a vast selection of Occult Books and Collectibles on AbeBooks.com *

https://www.abebooks.com

The Occult Library: Includes rare editions of early occult books and numerous chronicles of demonology, secret societies, theosophical orders, and ancient mystery religions.

https://www.occultlibrary.org

Resources:

For those looking to expand on the information cataloged through the Occult Library, a list of primary & secondary-source materials from the fields of lay scholarship and academic research can be found here. Please select a given resource, where information and links can offer you a pathway to expanding your knowledge of the occult community and its materia.

https://www.occultlibrary.org/ * https://www.occultlibrary.org/

https://mccliirf-chriacts-mcfoop.yolasite.com/

Home Protecting our InvestmentsCrimson Horn Press uses three NFPA, GSA, and NARA Directive 1571-compliant Archival Storage Chambers to protect our extremely rare books and documents. They are designed by the Darwin Chambers Company from St. Louis, Missouri. They are engineered to provide maximum value, e...