SOMA. Divine Mushroom of Immortality (signed) – Wasson, Gordon

Signed and inscribed by the author: “This copy of my book SOMA is for Margaret Seeler, whose advent into my life has meant so much to me. Danbury Conn. July 3, 1973.” “Of this book 680 copies have been made, designed by Giovanni Mardersteig and set in Dante type, of which two are designated A&B and the others are numbered 1 to 678. The text and the illustrations have been printed by the Stamperia Valdonega in Verona, except for the two plates in pochoir, which were executed in Paris by Daniel Jacomet et cie. The paper was made by hand by Fratelli Magnani, Pescia, and the printing was finished in October 1968. This copy in number 296. Here Wasson proposes his groundbreaking theory identifying Soma, the hallucinogenic sacrament of the Vedas as the Amanita Muscaria mushroom. (See Revisiting Wasson’s Soma: Exploring the Effect of Preparation on the Chemistry of Amanita Muscaria by Kevin Feeney. In the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, December 2010. It helps, to some extent, to solidify Wasson’s theory). Also known as the fly agaric, Amanita Muscaria is thought to have had tremendous impact on some of today’s cultures for at least four thousand years and is believed to have been at the root of origin of some of today’s religions. Appended under the heading of ‘Exhibits’ is an extensive section on the experiences of travellers, explorers and anthropologists related to the practice of eating the fly agaric in Siberia and Scandinavia. XIII prelims, 381pp with 24 plates of which 2 are printed after Charles Poluzzi and coloured in pochoir, 3 maps and a folding letterpress chart. 4to, gilt lettered navy morocco-backed cloth. Top edge gilt and the other edges untrimmed. In a lightly scuffed slipcase.

Publisher: Mouton
Date Published: 1968
Publication Place: The Hague
First Edition: Yes
Signed: Yes
Condition: Very good
Binding: Hardcover

Dimensions: 30.5 x 22cm