This is a "signature mark," used by early printers to keep the pages of a book in the correct order during binding.

INTRODUCTION

In my description or outline of the volume now presented, published in 1903 under the title Key of Solomon original Hebrew: "Mafteah Shelomo"; original Latin: "Clavicula Salomonis", I remarked that the chief work which is supposed to have served as the oracle of all sorcerers throughout history was the famous Key of Solomon original Latin: "Clavicula Salomonis." The "Key" refers to a book of secrets or instructions for magical operations..

King Solomon, who, according to tradition, was king of the whole world, and who, according to the statement in Ecclesiastes A book in the Bible traditionally attributed to Solomon, reflecting on the meaning of life and the vanity of worldly pleasures., could render all the joys and delights of life subservient to his will, stood forth as the pattern and prototype for all who hankered after the things which they regarded as the pleasurable and desirable objects of existence.

The legend runs that it was by means of magical conjurations that King Solomon the Wise was enabled to procure for himself all the delights and pleasures which he sought.

Gedaliah Ibn Yahya A 16th-century Italian Jewish chronicler and philosopher (1515–1587)., referring in his book The Chain of Tradition original Hebrew: "Shalsheleth-Hakabala" to works of this description bearing on the magical art, cites one by name, The Key of Solomon original Hebrew: "Mafteah Shelomo"—the very equivalent of the Latin Clavicula Salomonis. To quote his words:

original Hebrew: "ואומרים שזולת החבורים שעשה שלמה הכתובים בעשרים וארבע חבר גם כן ספרים על טבע האלנות והעשבים וחיות בהמות ועופות וחבר ספרים והשבועות נגד השטנים ונקראת מפתח שלמה :"

‘It is said that, in addition to the works composed by Solomon as contained in Holy Writ The "Twenty-Four" books of the Hebrew Bible., he wrote books on the nature of trees and plants, on wild beasts, animals, and fowl: he was further the author of writings and conjurations against Evil Agents in a work called The Key of Solomon.’

In the words of the great scholar of the Faust-legend, Karl Engel A German scholar known for his 19th-century studies on the folklore of Faust and other legendary figures., Solomon plays the same rôle in ancient Jewish Magic as Faust does in the Christian; it is, therefore, not to be wondered at that modern books on magic are attributed to him.

In comparatively modern times what is supposed to be translations or adaptations of the original Hebrew Key appeared in various Romance languages Languages derived from Latin, such as French, Italian, and Spanish., not to speak of German or English versions. With regard, however, to the Hebrew text itself, it seemed, as far as our knowledge went, to be altogether lost; it was, in fact, given up as lost. (Compare Mathers, page 5: The Key of Solomon the King, 1889.)

It chanced some years ago that I became possessed of a fine copy of the Hebrew manuscript of what appears to be this very Key of Solomon. I came across the volume among the books belonging to my father, the late Reverend Samuel Marcus Gollancz 1819–1900; a prominent rabbi and the father of the editor, Hermann Gollancz..