Rivers of Life, or Sources and Streams of the Faiths of Man In All Lands; Showing the Evolution of Faiths from the Rudest Symbolisms to the Latest Spiritual Developments. With Maps, Illustrations, and Separate Chart of Faith Streams. Subscriber's Copy.

First edition of this ambitious work of comparative religion, delineating the continuities between world cultures throughout human history. Among the civilizations and religions it covers are the Babylonians, Zoroastrians, Ancient Greeks and Romans, Hindus, Buddhists, and cultures from across Scandinavia, Polynesia, and Africa. The publication was issued to subscribers only. An engineer by training, Forlong's (1824-1904) interest in world religions stemmed from his time in Asia serving as a Major General in the Indian Army. He categorized all religions into six types of worship: tree, phallic, serpent, fire, sun, and ancestor. These types formed "streams" flowing throughout human culture, with their progression and interactions here visualized in the large accompanying chart. Forlong's interpretations and his abandonment of Christianity were scandalous to many, particularly his emphasis on the sexual nature of religious symbolism, but his work was influential among such as Helena Blavatsky and Aleister Crowley, who described it as "an invaluable textbook of old systems of initiation" (Crowley, p. 211). Aleister Crowley, Magick in Theory and Practice, 1929. 2 quarto text vols (278 x 221 mm) and linen-backed chromolithographic folding chart (236 x 65 mm; "A Student's Synchronological Chart of the Religions of the World"). With 14 engraved plates, 2 colour maps (double-page and folding respectively), 4 folding tables, illustrations within text. Recent green half morocco, spine lettered in gilt, raised bands, top edges gilt, others uncut, original cloth front covers bound at rear of each volume. Chart with original green cloth slipcase, housed within custom green half morocco box. Pencil ownership signatures of Paul Backer, perhaps the professor of dramatic arts (1957-2016), on title page of first volume and map verso of second; sporadic pencil annotations. Contents lightly browned, occasional chips to margins, closed tear to folding map. Chart verso a little soiled, else colours bright; slipcase cockled and worn, with a little loss. Overall, in very good condition.…