Hi Mark,

Briefly before I retire,

Alvidas was the pen-name of Henry Clay Hodges.

His chief works are:
Hodges, Henry Clay ?2000 Years in Celestial Life? Astro Publishing Co., 1901
Alvidas et Al. ?Science and Key of Life? Vol. I ? Astro Publishing Company, 1902
Alvidas et Al. ?Science and Key of Life? Vol. II ? Astro Publishing Company, 1902
Alvidas et Al. ?Science and Key of Life? Vol. III ? Astro Publishing Company, 1903
Alvidas et Al. ?Science and Key of Life? Vol. IV ? Astro Publishing Company, undated
Alvidas et Al. ?Science and Key of Life? Vol. V ? Astro Publishing Company, 1904
Alvidas et Al. ?Science and Key of Life? Vol. VI ? Astro Publishing Company, 1910
Alvidas et Al. ?Science and Key of Life? Vol. VII ? Astro Publishing Company, 1910
Alvidas et Al., compiled Hodges, Henry Clay ?The Pocket Edition of Astrological Terms and Interpretations, Indexed? Astro Publishing Company, Hodges Building, Detroit, Mich., 1903

So you can see that he sometimes used his real name, sometimes his pen-name, and occasionally even both!

The 'Pocket Edition of Astrological Terms and Interpretations' was derived from the contents of Science and Key of Life Volume III, presented in a popular softcover format.

Volume IV pp. 160-323 are concerned with the Fixed Stars and the directions of the planets to them.

You can find sets of the 1997 Weiser reprint of the seven main volumes of Science and Key of Life for as little as $50 second-hand today. It was reprinted in a somewhat ambitious quantity and took quite a few years to sell out.

The originals, on the other hand, are very scarce, usually found in rough condition, and highly prized by Gann list collectors, with the result that they fetch silly money from booksellers.

NB: '2000 Years in Celestial Life' is a very strange work, more mysticism than astrology. I would recommend giving that one a miss unless you want to understand that side of Hodges!

Philip

PS: Handn, thank you for the kind works of appreciation! I'm glad the material is interesting if a little obscure!

Mark wrote:Thanks Philip,

Sorry we were clearly not up to your level of knowledge. Interesting process though. It will be good when your website gets running. These people would probably be totally forgotten otherwise. How does Gordon's book rate on a practical astrological level to Cornell?

Mark is right, this game it is very difficult for common girls like me.
But i always like to read you

margherita

Oh Margherita, you needn't feel small!

Your knowledge of older astrological texts and concepts is extremely impressive. I think it's worth remembering the vastness of the field. We all perhaps have our special interests time-wise and content-wise. The 19th and early 20th centuries are fascinating to me. Share and share alike. :-)

Here is a bookseller's picture of a pristine copy of source 1, Houghton's 'The Supreme Rulers'.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/FrameBa ... 063997.jpg

If you want to learn more about what Saturn said to Luna and vice versa about topics other than the Hyleg and the philosophy of astrology, that copy will cost you ?75. I believe it is the only one on the marketplace today. (They are not the only planets who get to voice their world-views, by the way. Mars, Mercury and especially Uranus also join in.)

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookD ... e%2BRulers

If anyone is serious enough about medical astrology, I have a spare complete two-volume set of Henry Gordon's work on astro-pathology for private sale. It is a rare work, with only 500 sets having been printed, so you'll need to make me a decent offer, but if medical astrology is your thing, it's a good opportunity.