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Fulgur Press

Fulgur Press is the leading independent publisher for esotericism and magic in visual culture. Our books explore esotericism in visual culture.

We work with artists, writers, editors and curators to develop projects that embody notions of agency.

18/07/2025

The original enamels for Ithell Colquhoun’s extraordinary series The Taro as Colour are currently on view at Tate Britain as the grand finale in their first major exhibition of the artist’s work. Last weekend Aïsha and I ventured into London to see them again first hand. I was especially pleased that the Fulgur Press deck compared very favourably in the accuracy of colour with the original artwork.

And for those of you interested… I have contributed a 7k word essay on Colquhoun’s relationship with the tarot for our forthcoming book, ‘Surrealism and the Tarot: A Love Story’. It traces her interest from 1928-1977, and is illustrated with numerous examples of her tarot designs throughout the period. The book is due out in November, and pre-order will open in September.

Until then, we still have copies available of the deck itself, magically custom scented by via the Fulgur Press website. This edition is currently about 40% sold, and it will be our last. Carpe diem!

01/02/2025

Years from now, I suspect the Ithell Colquhoun exhibition that opened at Tate St Ives on Friday evening will be regarded as turning point in British occultism. Make no mistake folks… it’s a landmark event.

When she died in 1988, Colquhoun’s contribution as an artist faced exclusion from scholarship and the wider art-historical discourse primarily because the esoteric sources of inspiration that fuelled her exploration of the creative process laid beyond accepted narratives. But now, nearly forty years later… her moment has finally arrived.

Aïsha and I attended the private view on Friday evening. In preparing the exhibition the curators faced a daunting prospect; Colquhoun left a nearly intact archive of more than 3500 works, split primarily between the Tate and the National Trust. Even armed with Richard Shillitoe’s pioneering catalogue, making sense of Colquhoun’s diverse and recurring interests would be a challenge, but here the curators have performed the kind of alchemy that fascinated Colquhoun.

Following a broadly chronological narrative, the exhibition divides her output into discrete themes, commencing with her figurative work, then the impact of surrealist processes, and finally her application of those processes in exploring magical ideas.

What sets this exhibition apart from many others in recent years is the foregrounding of the esoteric texts. In most rooms, a vitrine provides the books and manuscripts that were the seeds for the flowering of her creative expression. And they are all here: Crowley, Regardie, Ouspensky… a who’s who of 20th century occultism, and moreover often her own copies, bequeathed by her in 1988 and now held by the Tate Archives.

I am told that the Tate Britain has less space, and that these texts may well be excluded from the London iteration of this important exhibition. I hope not… but if you have been meaning to visit Cornwall, now would be a good time.

Congratulations to everyone at the Tate, and the team of consultants who have contributed to this outstanding project!

30/01/2025

A truly memorable opening night for the groundbreaking inaugural exhibition at the Warburg Institute: Tarot. Origins and Afterlives. Divided into four key areas divided by screens reminiscent of Aby Warburg’s Mnemosyne Atlas, this exhibition charts the history of tarot through significant moments in its cultural development, ranging from examples of the earliest known decks, through to watercolour designs by Frieda Harris and Suzanne Triester. The exhibition runs until 30 April in conjunction with a public programme of events and lectures.

I was especially pleased to see the recently discovered deck by Austin Osman Spare alongside that of Pamela Colman Smith… congratulations to the curators Bill Sherman, Jonathan Allen, Martina Mazzotta and the team at the Warburg Institute for this timely jewel of an exhibition!

09/01/2025

Three superb works by Austin Osman Spare are up for auction in the UK next week.

1. The Evolution of the Human Race, c.1927. An evocative large pencil drawing that includes a portrait of Walter Warren, an influential neighbour c. 1900, who was inspired by the Omar Khayyam. The woman centred is his daughter.

2. Blood on the Moon, 1954. A piece of lunar magic once owned by the occultist, Fred Gettings, author of ‘The Secret History of the Dollar Bill’.

3. Wandering Lust, 1952. A large and finely draw gender-blending masterpiece… in the original frame made by Spare himself!

For full details, see: www.lawrences.co.uk. Winter Fine Art Sale, January 15th.

02/01/2025

The year has turned, but we’re not quite ready to return to work. Just as well then that we have our Winter Sale to keep you distracted… fans of Ithell Colquhoun and Leonora Carrington will find some rare and sought-after titles at a fraction of the current secondhand prices.

And for our USA customers… this might be your last chance before the tariffs take effect! Carpe diem!

All details via our website! www.fulgur.co.uk

31/12/2024

It has been a period of celebration and political turbulence, but as 2024 draws to a close Aïsha and I are reflecting on the events, publications and enduring friendships that have marked the year.

1. The proof for the new edition of the Major Arcana of Leonora Carrington arrived in January.
2. In February Mumu gave her approval for the new shipping boxes for Aïsha’s fledgling perfume company
3. March, and I am deep in the process of tracing proximal sources for André Breton’s ‘Magic Art.’
4. The arrival of Penny Slinger’s much anticipated ‘An Exorcism’ in April… back in print after nearly 50 years!
5. May, and Aïsha oversees the scenting process for the Leonora Carrington Major Arcana deck.
6. Penny and I celebrate the launch of ‘An Exorcism’ at her July exhibition at the Richard Saltoun Gallery, London.
7. In Paris for the conference at the end of October, here Aïsha pictured with our surrealist comrades and Jeremy Biles.
8. Constance Krebs of and Krzysztof Fijalkowski mark the arrival of ‘Magic Art’ in Paris.
9. In November a collaboration with provided opportunity to mark the first English language publication of André Breton’s ‘Magic Art’ with a sold out one day symposium.
10. André Breton’s ‘Magic Art’… ‘Je cherche l’or du temps’

Our best wishes to you all for 2025!

18/11/2024

A truly wonderful afternoon spent at The Magic Circle viewing the Austin Osman Spare tarot with from .

I finally had the opportunity to compare Spare’s tarot side-by-side with two cards from my own collection: one of Spare’s Surrealist Racing Forecast cards from 1936 and one of the elementals from his Arena of Anon, c.1928. We were well looked after by the team at who gave us a rare and privileged glimpse of the history and archives. I was especially delighted to learn that Sooty (the primary ursine atavism for UK children of the 70-80s) guarded the cabinet where the AOS tarot was stored for many years…

03/11/2024

We’re still on a high from an absolutely exceptional day yesterday celebrating the publication of André Breton’s Magic Art at the Warburg Institute, London. With a full house, the symposium was expertly chaired by Felicity Gee, with sublime and moving contributions from artists Jesse Bransford, Elijah Burgher, Jillian Conrad, Nooka Shepherd and Judith Noble. Surrealist scholar Will Watkins closed the day with an analysis of the importance of Breton’s text in light of modern ‘enchantment’ studies. An after party at Zedel with project co-editor Merlin Cox ended a perfect day. We are already making plans for two similar events in the USA (New York and Houston) for spring 2025!

A big thank you to Jon Millington and the team at the Warburg for making us so welcome!

22/10/2024

Aïsha and I are looking forward to arriving in Paris this weekend ahead of the amazing ISSS conference: part of the centennial celebrations for the publication of André Breton’s First Manifesto of Surrealism in October 1924.

Our own event on November 2nd in collaboration with is completely sold out.

The limited edition centenary lapel pin to mark our first English publication of André Breton’s Magic Art has also just landed from our supplier… and has produced a custom scent ‘L’Énigme’ that we will share further news on shortly!

15/10/2024

A little bit of everyday magic… this morning, on the very day André Breton’s First Manifesto of Surrealism was published 100 years ago, we received the advance copies of our English translation of Magic Art.

We’re quite pleased…

We are still accepting pre-orders at the reduced price via our website. And today we are announcing the deluxe edition of Magic Art, signed by Aubé Elléouët Breton.

Auspicious days indeed…

30/09/2024

Yesterday, Aïsha and I visited the Pompidou to attend the major exhibition, Surréalisme. Just one of many exhibitions celebrating the centennial of the surrealist revolution, the Pompidou show gathers and highlights some of the most noted works that marked the surrealist agenda. The publisher in me particularly enjoyed the way the various themes were reflected in surrealist books and ephemera that were exhibited with equal care. It was truly crowded, a testament to the legacy of the magic and relevancy of the surrealist vision.

1. Giorgio de Chirico: The Child’s Brain, 1914
2. The hall of fame
3. Eileen Agar: The Wings of Augury, 1936
4. Aïsha wearing a custom Maison Shehu silk scarf with a Uli onlooking
5. Jacques Hérold: La Grand Transparent, 1947
6. The famous wall from the studio of André Breton (detail)
7. Aubé Elléouët Breton: Elsenuer, 1979

12/09/2024

We have a major announcement coming next week… and it’s the reason we’ve been so quiet these past few months.

It’s an important text of surrealism and magic that calls to our publishing objectives of the last 30 years: André Breton’s ‘Magic Art’. Originally published in French in 1957, commentators remarked it was too ambitious to attempt an English translation. But knowing you’d love it, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work.

There will be a formal announcement next week via our Newsletter and social media platforms, but I can say now there will be various editions, including a deluxe signed by André Breton’s daughter.

The launch event will also be something special: a one day symposium in partnership with the Warburg Institute on Saturday November 2nd. A limited number of tickets will be released next week and our Newsletter will include details of how to get them. There will be artists, books, souvenirs and snacks…

Until then, here are some shots of a planning visit to the Warburg in July… our host Jon Millington gave a tour of the new building facilities, and its looks to be superb!

Full details via our Newsletter next week!

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Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm

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