Mandrake Press
A short-lived British small press associated with literary modernism, fine-print publishing, and Aleister Crowley.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Mandrake Press was a British small press established in 1929 by Edward Goldston and P. R. Stephensen. It operated within the interwar British literary and independent-publishing scene, producing a relatively small but diverse catalogue that combined literary works, translations, poetry, art-related publications, occult writing, and booklets issued under several Mandrake-branded series. Although the press survived for only a brief period, its catalogue connected it with a notable group of writers and artists, including D. H. Lawrence, Liam O'Flaherty, Rhys Davies, Giovanni Boccaccio, Peter Warlock, S. S. Koteliansky, Aleister Crowley, Thomas Burke, Cecil Roth, Beresford Egan, W. J. Turner, Brinsley MacNamara, Edgell Rickword, Richard Barham Middleton, V. V. Rozanov, Philip Owens, and Vernon Knowles. The business encountered financial difficulties in 1930. A consortium led by Aleister Crowley subsequently formed Mandrake Press Ltd in an attempt to take over the undertaking, but that rescue effort was also unsuccessful. The company was dissolved later in 1930, making Mandrake Press an example of an ambitious but financially fragile small press of the period. Its short existence did not prevent later interest from collectors, bibliographers, and scholars of British literary and esoteric publishing. The press is recorded as having issued more than 30 items. Its output included The Paintings of D. H. Lawrence, a publication documenting Lawrence's visual work, as well as works associated with the authors listed above. It also used titles such as Black Lodge Booklets, Mandrake Booklets, and Mandrake Press Booklets for parts of its publishing programme. The catalogue's mixture of established literary names, translated or adapted material, poetry, art, and occult subjects reflects the eclectic character of independent publishing in the late 1920s. One particularly notable bibliographical case concerns the Book of Tobit. A 1985 Cambridge University exhibition catalogue reportedly treated the work as though no copies had been produced, despite the existence of an announcement and prospectus. Three copies were subsequently identified: one in an Australian library and two in private collections. This discovery illustrates the continuing uncertainty surrounding the surviving record of a small press whose production was limited, and whose publications are now primarily encountered through specialist collections and bibliographical research. Mandrake Press is no longer active as a publishing business. Its historical importance rests less on commercial scale than on the concentration of literary, artistic, and occult associations within its brief catalogue and on its place in the history of British small-press publishing.
History
Mandrake Press was founded in Britain in 1929 by Edward Goldston and P. R. Stephensen. It belonged to the interwar small-press world, in which relatively independent publishers could issue literary, artistic, translated, and specialist works outside the largest commercial houses. The press developed an eclectic catalogue rather than a narrowly defined commercial list. Its publications were associated with writers and cultural figures including D. H. Lawrence, Liam O'Flaherty, Rhys Davies, Giovanni Boccaccio, Peter Warlock, S. S. Koteliansky, Aleister Crowley, Thomas Burke, Cecil Roth, Beresford Egan, W. J. Turner, Brinsley MacNamara, Edgell Rickword, Richard Barham Middleton, V. V. Rozanov, Philip Owens, and Vernon Knowles. The press reportedly published more than 30 items. Among the best-known titles associated with it was The Paintings of D. H. Lawrence, which represented the press's interest in the intersection of literature and visual art. Its catalogue also included material connected with poetry, fiction, translation, and occult or esoteric writing. Several series names are associated with its output, including Black Lodge Booklets, Mandrake Booklets, and Mandrake Press Booklets. These series suggest a publishing model based partly on shorter, specialist, or limited-format works. Mandrake Press's commercial life was brief. In 1930 the company experienced financial difficulties. Aleister Crowley led a consortium that formed Mandrake Press Ltd in an effort to take over the enterprise. The new arrangement did not succeed, and the company was dissolved in 1930. The episode illustrates the financial vulnerability of small literary presses, especially those operating with specialized audiences and limited production runs. The later bibliographical history of Mandrake Press has been shaped by uncertainty about what was actually printed and how many copies survived. At a 1985 Cambridge University exhibition devoted to the press, the Book of Tobit was believed not to have been produced, although it had been announced and a prospectus had been issued. Subsequent research located three copies: one in an Australian library and two in private collections. The discovery changed the understanding of the surviving Mandrake Press record and reinforced its interest to collectors and scholars. Mandrake Press is defunct and has no known continuing corporate operation. Its legacy is that of a short-lived but unusually varied British small press whose catalogue brought together mainstream and experimental literary culture, art publishing, and occult or esoteric material. The press remains relevant to histories of P. R. Stephensen, Aleister Crowley, independent publishing, and rare-book bibliography.
- 1985
Cambridge University exhibition
[1]An exhibition of Mandrake Press works highlights the rarity and uncertain bibliographical status of some titles.
- 1930
Financial difficulties and takeover attempt
[1]Financial problems lead to an attempted takeover by a consortium led by Aleister Crowley under the name Mandrake Press Ltd.
- 1930
Dissolution
[1]The takeover attempt fails and the company is dissolved.
- 1929
Mandrake Press is founded
[1]Edward Goldston and P. R. Stephensen establish the British small press.
Products and positioning
An eclectic British small press focused on limited and specialist literary publishing, with interests spanning modern literature, art, translation, poetry, and occult or esoteric subjects.
Art book
The Paintings of D. H. Lawrence
A Mandrake Press publication devoted to the paintings of D. H. Lawrence. The title exemplifies the press's interest in literary figures as visual artists and in illustrated or art-related books alongside conventional literary publishing.
Religious and literary text
Book of Tobit
A rare title announced by Mandrake Press for which a prospectus was issued. For many years its actual production was uncertain, but three copies were later identified: one held by an Australian library and two in private collections.
Booklet series
Black Lodge Booklets
A series associated with Mandrake Press's specialist publishing programme. The series name reflects the press's documented connection with occult and esoteric subjects, although a complete verified list of individual titles is not established here.
Booklet series
Mandrake Booklets
One of the short-form publication series linked to the press. It formed part of the broader Mandrake imprint structure used for specialist and literary material.
Booklet series
Mandrake Press Booklets
A further booklet series attributed to Mandrake Press. Like the other series, it reflects the small press's use of compact specialist publications in addition to standalone books.
Brand decisions
1930
Formation of Mandrake Press Ltd to attempt a takeoverM&ABackground
Mandrake Press faced financial problems soon after its establishment. A consortium led by Aleister Crowley sought to preserve or acquire the undertaking by forming Mandrake Press Ltd.
Action taken
The consortium organized a takeover structure under the Mandrake Press Ltd name.
Aftermath
The rescue and takeover effort was unsuccessful, and Mandrake Press was dissolved in 1930.
Recent events
- 1985
Cambridge exhibition revisits the Mandrake Press catalogue[1]
Other
A Cambridge University exhibition presented works associated with Mandrake Press and drew attention to the uncertain publication history of Book of Tobit.
- 1930
Aleister Crowley-backed takeover attempt follows financial trouble[1]
M&A · Other
After Mandrake Press encountered financial problems, a consortium led by Aleister Crowley formed Mandrake Press Ltd in an unsuccessful attempt to take over the company.
- 1930
Mandrake Press is dissolved[1]
Bankruptcy
The takeover effort failed and the company was dissolved during the same year.
- 1929
Mandrake Press is established in Britain[1]
Other
Edward Goldston and P. R. Stephensen founded Mandrake Press as a British small press.
Sources1 sources
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