Details of Crowley's Magical Dagger

Sold at Auction for £10,000 at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday 11 December 2014

A Middle Eastern dagger (Jambiya) as owned and used by Aleister Crowley, most famously in the celebrated 1934 Associated Press photograph of the great occultist in magical robes and with arms outstretched.

The magical dagger is housed in the original scabbard and dates from the late 19th / early 20th century. Waisted wooden grip with chased metal mount and curved double-edged steel blade with a slightly pronounced ridge. Length of blade approx. 22cm. The scabbard is of brass and silver, pierced and chased with intricate floral motifs and culminating with a dome-shaped edge.

Some occasional wear but overall a most enchanting item. A red rope passes through two metal rings at the sides of the scabbard, thus allowing Crowley to wear this weapon as part of his ritualistic outfit.

Provenance is impeccable, having come from the family of Deirde Patricia Maureen Doherty, later MacAlpine [Patricia MacAlpine], mother of Crowley's son Aleister Ataturk, aka Randall Gair Crowley. Family tradition has it that Crowley gifted the set to Deirdre Doherty to provide for her and their son should the need ever arise.