The Most Perfect Book in the World: Aleister Crowley, Oskar Hopfer, and Liber 777

Abstract

As initially published by Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) in 1909, his book 777 contained tables of correspondences between the Tarot, qabalistic Tree of Life, divine pantheons and other aspects of Western esotericism. Unsatisfied with the original edition, in 1925 he commissioned artist Oskar Hopfer (1892–1966) to produce diagrams to illustrate the correspondences contained in the tables. Unfortunately, no publisher was found to issue the revised work, and the project went unfulfilled. Hopfer’s original work for Crowley is no longer extant. His designs were considered lost until the recent discovery of set of the diagrams in a German museum. This discovery has shed light on Crowley’s plans for the revised edition of 777, his attempts to publish the work, and his belief in the power of the visual arts to communicate complex esoteric principles.