Mayan Order (1 results)

Condition: Near Fine. First edition. Presumed first edition of The Miracle Power, copyright 1939. 92, [2] pp. with order form at rear. Bound in publisher's red cloth stamped in blue. Near Fine with sunned spine, light wear and soiling to cloth, and moderate toning to contents; binding tight. No OCLC record for this edition Together with 37 issues of The Mayans, copyrighted 1936-1967 but printed in the 1960s. Includes issues 1-13, 15-28, and 31-42. First issue contains two introductory letters, each supposedly signed (likely after her death) by the psychic Isabelle Taylor under her stage name Rose Dawn. Each issue staple bound at upper edge, pink cover sheet printed in red, approx 12-20 mimeographed sheets printed recto only. Overall Very Good+ with subscription crease to each booklet, light wear to covers, and occasional coffee stains and inscriptions; three rear pages detached. Three secret code practice sheets on scrap paper laid in. A nice collection of cult/kook publications. The Mayan Order was created by the married couple William and Isabelle Taylor, who after moving to Hollywood transformed themselves into "Rose Dawn" the showgirl and "Koran" the conjurer. They moved to Del Rio in 1933 to perform as psychics on the new radio station founded by the famous quack Dr. John Brinkley, who made his money by convincing men that they could improve their virility by allowing him to implant goat testes in their bodies. The powerful Radio XERA broadcast from just across the Mexican border to avoid American government regulation, and it was a hit. Rose Dawn, a Mae West lookalike, became the "Star Girl of XERA" and raked in money selling astrological charts to her many listeners. Rose Dawn and Koran announced that Del Rio was the center of ancient Mayan culture, and they bought a ranch nearby to create the headquarters of their new Mayan Order, complete with alters. They delivered Mayan-flavored self-help lessons via correspondence, beginning by teaching each student a special code for communication. In 1941 they moved the Order to San Antonio, where it lasted long after Rose's death in 1957. Her signature continued to appear on documents -- perhaps her spectral fingers reached out from Xibalba to move the pen.