The Black Raven: A Study in the Folk Necromancy of Early Modern Germany by Alexander Cummins & Brian Johnson

German grimoire, folk necromancy, treasure magic

The Black Raven: A Study in the Folk Necromancy of Early Modern Germany presents a remarkable German grimoire devoted to folk necromancy, treasure hunting, spirit work and the ritual traditions of early modern Germany. Dating to the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century, the manuscript initially appears to be an eclectic collection of conjurations and ritual instructions, but reveals a coherent magical system centred upon the treasure-hunting nigromancer.

At its heart is a distinctive form of treasure magic concerned with both the acquisition of hidden wealth and the spirits believed to guard it. The text provides methods for petitioning infernal lords associated with earthly riches, while also presenting rituals for dealing with ghosts and other spirits encountered around buried or concealed treasure.

The work reflects a longstanding concern within European magical literature: the recovery of hidden treasure. Medieval and early modern practitioners frequently regarded buried valuables as being protected by malevolent spirits or haunted by the deceased owners who had been unable to relinquish their riches in life. The Black Raven therefore combines conjuration, exorcistic practice, protective invocations and rituals intended to liberate restless spirits from their earthly attachments.

Planetary spirit work also forms part of this unusual magical toolkit, providing a further dimension to the timing and practice of treasure-seeking operations. In this respect, the manuscript offers an illuminating example of how celestial magic, spirit conjuration and folk magical practices could converge within the German grimoire tradition.

Presented in English translation for the first time, this edition is particularly valuable to collectors and researchers of historical magic. Alongside the English translation, it includes a transcription and facsimile of the original German manuscript, allowing readers to engage directly with the source text. Framing essays by Alexander Cummins and Brian Johnson place the work within the wider contexts of early modern ghostlore, folk necromancy and the Faustian grimoire corpus.

For readers interested in German grimoires, folk necromancy, treasure magic and the history of European ritual practice, The Black Raven offers a rare encounter with a previously inaccessible magical manuscript.

Premium Production Details

Title: The Black Raven: A Study in the Folk Necromancy of Early Modern Germany

Authors: Alexander Cummins and Brian Johnson

Original translation from German by: Brian Johnson

Publisher: Hadean Press

Edition: Hardcover

Binding: Hardcover

Pages: 196

Cover artwork: Adeline Soothtell

Original language: German

Contents: English translation, transcription and facsimile of the original German manuscript

ISBN: 978-1-915933-70-6