Samuel Weiser
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bookstore, Publishing |
| Predecessor | The Weiser Bookshop |
| Founded | 1926 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Samuel Weiser |
| Headquarters | Cape Neddick, Maine , United States |
Area served | United States (primarily online) |
Key people | Marilyn Rinn (director), Keith Richmond (owner) |
| Products | Occult and esoteric books, rare and used books, publishing (Teitan Press imprint) |
| Website | www |
Weiser Antiquarian Books holds the distinction of being the longest-established occult bookstore in the United States, specializing in literature related to Aleister Crowley, magic, mysticism, Eastern spiritual traditions, and alternative religious practices. Its predecessor in New York, known as The Weiser Bookshop, was once hailed as "arguably the most renowned occult bookstore in the country."
Early years
Established by Samuel Weiser in 1926 within New York City's "Book Row" area, the store originally offered a broad selection of used books but placed particular emphasis on occult and comparative religious texts. After several relocations throughout Book Row, it ultimately settled at 117 4th Avenue for many years. In 1949, Samuel's brother Ben joined the enterprise, reinforcing its specialization in occult subjects during the 1950s and 1960s—a period when many bookstores shied away from such material.
A significant moment occurred in 1955 when Karl Germer, Aleister Crowley’s successor as leader of Ordo Templi Orientis, sold Weiser unbound sheets of Crowley’s The Equinox of the Gods. Weiser then bound and distributed these under the original O.T.O. imprint, marking one of their earliest ventures into occult publishing. Germer also provided Weiser with a First Edition of Crowley’s The Book of Thoth, which at that time sold for $50 or less despite its scarcity; today, those editions are highly valued and fetch thousands.
As rents increased and urban development affected Book Row, numerous bookstores shifted their locations to Broadway. Weiser followed suit, moving to 845 Broadway and expanding its collection to exceed 100,000 volumes housed in an extensive basement space. Following Samuel’s heart attack and partial retirement, Ben was joined by Samuel’s son Donald to sustain the business.
The 1960s onwards
Samuel Weiser ventured into publishing in the mid-1950s, initially under the Occult Research Press label before adopting his own name. The countercultural movements of the 1960s and growing fascination with esotericism and Eastern spirituality enabled Ben and Donald Weiser to broaden their publishing endeavors, attracting contemporary writers such as Israel Regardie. Their bookstore stock featured rare and out-of-print works ideal for reissue.
In the late 1960s, the shop relocated to a two-floor space at 734 Broadway near Astor Place. Under Donald Weiser’s leadership and with assistance from Fred Mendel, the business further specialized by offering used, rare, newly released domestic titles alongside imported occult books. Publishing operations were moved to a separate location at 625 Broadway.
By the early 1980s, escalating costs in New York City compelled Donald Weiser to transfer Samuel Weiser Publishing along with its distribution division to York, Maine. In 1985, the rare books department—renamed “Weiser Antiquarian Books”—also relocated there, sharing warehouse facilities with distribution services. Due to soaring rents, the Broadway retail location closed in the early 1990s; its substantial inventory was shipped to Maine to enhance Weiser Antiquarian Books.
In 2000, Donald Weiser sold off the publishing branch, which was subsequently renamed Red Wheel / Weiser. This company remained based in York until 2006 before shifting editorial operations to San Francisco and marketing functions to Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Donald Weiser retired in 2005; ownership of Weiser Antiquarian Books passed to director Marilyn Rinn and Australian bookseller Keith Richmond. They moved the business in 2006 to Cape Neddick, Maine—previously an art gallery and formerly Samuel Weiser Publishing’s headquarters. In 2007, they initiated publishing activities under the Teitan Press imprint founded by Martin P. Starr and Frank Winston.
Catalogs
Traditionally, Weiser Bookstore produced printed catalogs that featured hundreds to thousands of titles accompanied by fundamental information. The rise of the internet led to a temporary halt in these printed editions, with book listings migrating to various digital platforms and the company’s own website.
Starting in January 2006, Weiser Antiquarian Books began releasing online catalogs again, each concentrating on particular authors or thematic areas. A significant number emphasize Aleister Crowley—one of their core specialties—as well as figures like Dion Fortune, Israel Regardie, John Dee, and Austin Osman Spare. Some catalogs break new ground by showcasing authors such as Jack Parsons, Marcelo Ramos Motta, and Kenneth Grant for the first time. Others focus on periodicals like The Occult Review or delve into topics including alchemy, spiritualism, Hermetica, Hermetic Qabalah, magick, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and Rosicrucianism. Additionally, certain catalogs highlight distinguished collections like those of Helen Parsons Smith or Ray Burlingame and feature archival materials such as the correspondence of Karl Germer.
These publications offer detailed bibliographic data alongside historical context and biographical notes, frequently incorporating previously unpublished manuscripts. They are regularly referenced by scholars in academic works. Archives of earlier catalogs remain accessible online for both customers and researchers.
Weiser Antiquarian Books functions primarily as an online bookseller without a physical retail location but accommodates established clients through scheduled appointments.