"I have, at a vast labor and expense, both of time and charges, collected whatsoever can be deemed valuable and rare, in regard to the subject of Hindu and Natural Magic, Indian Occultism-the Cabala-Celestial and Ceremonial Magic-Alchymy and Spiritism; and have divided it into two books ["Great Book of Magical Art, Hindu Magic and East Indian Occultism, and The Book of Secret Hindu, Ceremonial, and Talismanic Magic"]"-From the author's preface.
Lauron William de Laurence was an author and publisher on occult and spiritual topics. While his publishing company was a pioneer in the business of supplying magical and occult goods by mail order, his distribution of public domain books and accusations of plagiarizing A.E. Waite and S.L. MacGregor Mathers tarnished his reputation.