The Silent Listener

The Life and Works of J.H.W. Eldermans

The Richel-Eldermans collection is one of the most enigmatic sexual magic collections in the world, and can be found in the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Boscastle, United Kingdom. The collection consists mainly of works by J.H.W. Eldermans, a former civil servant who lived in The Hague, The Netherlands. His skills are of an undeniable high quality, and his works are not only made on paper, but also in metal, wood and bone. Who was J.H.W. Eldermans, and why was he interested in sexual magic to a degree that borders on obsession? Was Eldermans acquainted with Cecil H. Williamson? Was he a member of an occult lodge called Ars Amatoria? Was J.H.W. Eldermans an unknown magister in the occult art?

The Silent Listener. The Life and Works of J.H.W. Eldermans answers these questions and shines a light upon the remarkable life and works of Johannes Hendrik Willem Eldermans, a fascinating man with an outstanding collection.

Wilmar Taal MA (1969) is a cultural historian specialized in sagas, myths and the occult sciences. He works at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, lives in Koog aan de Zaan, The Netherlands, with his wife, two daughters and cat.

An introduction to ‘The Silent Listener – The Life and Works of J.H.W. Eldermans by Wilmar Taal

Wilmar talks to Karagan Griffith for ‘Hidden Light’ about ‘The Silent Listener’

Available in the following editions:

Paperback Edition: Gloss laminate cover.

Standard Hardback Edition: a Terracotta case binding with gold foil blocking to cover & spine, 90gsm white paper stock, black endpapers, with black and tail bands.

Special Edition: a limited edition of 350 hand-numbered examples, bound in a Butterscotch faux leather binding, with gold foil blocking to the front and spine, 90gsm white paper stock, black endpapers, with black head and tail bands.

Size: All editions are Royal format 234 x 156mm.

Pagination: 414 pages extensively illustrated with drawings and photographs from various Edlermans collections plus 16 pages of colour photographic plates, Please Note: the paperback edition has black & white photo plates.

Preface by Jeannet Richel

Introduction

PART ONE: LIFE

CHAPTER ONE: A MILITARY FAMILY

  • Johannes Eldermans
  • Hendrik Willem Eldermans
  • The National Railways
  • The Rotterdam years
  • The Great War

CHAPTER TWO: ADOLESCENCE AND YOUNG ADULTHOOD

  • A Vacation Home in Nunspeet
  • More Schooling, Engagement, Marriage, Children and Probation
  • The First The Hague Period

CHAPTER THREE: THE ALMELO YEARS 1936-1949

  • A Public Figure 1938-1940
  • World War II
  • The Prelude to Liberation 1944-1945
  • Liberation
  • The Almelo Tribunal
  • Wartime Myths about J.H.W. Eldermans

CHAPTER FOUR: THE SECOND THE HAGUE PERIOD 1949-1985

  • Eldermans’ Professional Career in the 1950s and 1960s
  • Personal Life
  • Retired
  • Involvement in the Round House Mystery
  • Double Tragedy

CHAPTER FIVE: THE LEGACY OF J.H.W. ELDERMANS

  • His Name Must be Heard!
  • The Collection Disperses
  • The Destroyed Parts
  • The Richel-Eldermans Collection

PART TWO: WORKS

CHAPTER SIX: THE MAGIC OF J.H.W. ELDERMANS

  • A Life Filled with Magic
  • Sources of J.H.W. Eldermans
  • Believer, Investigator or Mythmaker?

CHAPTER SEVEN: NOTEBOOKS, HANDWRITINGS AND THE MANUSCRIPT

  • The Blue and Red Notebook
  • Methode Rueff M2547
  • The Rite of Egypt (Dressage by candlelight)
  • Ritus Ruthenicus
  • The Manuscript (1970-1984)

CHAPTER EIGHT: CONTENTS OF THE MANUSCRIPT

  • Persons
  • Literary and Other References
  • Magical Symbols
  • Secret and Magical Societies
  • Objects and their Purpose
  • Folklore, Mythology and Folklore Tales
  • More Gnomes
  • Mandrakes

CHAPTER NINE: SKETCHES AND DRAWINGS

  • Technique
  • Cataloguing
  • Drawings in the Richel-Eldermans Collection
  • Collection Cees Stam
  • Collection Dr. H.T. Hakl
  • Collection Martine Richel
  • Collection Jeannet Richel
  • Collection Theo Eldermans
  • Collection Wilmar Taal

CHAPTER TEN: OBJECTS

  • Objects in the Richel-Eldermans Collection
  • Collection Martine Richel
  • Collection Willem Bosman
  • Collection Erik Hille
  • Collection Jeannet Richel

PART THREE: LEGACY

CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE MYTH OF J.H.W. ELDERMANS

  • Mythmaking on the Internet
  • Round in Circles: Myths concerning J.H.W. Eldermans and the Round House
  • Who Caused the Myths?

CHAPTER TWELVE: MAGIC IS NEVER SUITABLE FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE

  • A Product of His Upbringing
  • A Peculiar Sexual Preference?
  • A Practicing Magician?
  • Was the Family Aware?
  • An Embittered Man
  • J.H.W. Eldermans: A Final Word

Acknowledgments

Consulted Archives

Consulted Museums

Consulted Libraries

Digitally Consulted Libraries

Illustrations

Bibliography

Notes

Paperback Edition

£18.50 plus shipping

For shipping information click here

Standard Hardback Edition

Please note: this edition is now sold out, but we will shortly have stock available of the new Dust Jacketed Hardback edition of this book. We are introducing these editions as a replacement for our foil blocked Standard Hardbacks. We will be continuing with our Special Limited Edition books for future releases.

Special Edition

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