Hartz, Joseph Michael | "Tricks and illusions which may be done with articles in every day use"

Hartz, Joseph Michael

Hartz's New Book of Magic Consisting of Tricks and Illusions Which May Be Done with Articles in Every Day Use. Huddersfield: Henry Fielding & Co., 1864

Booklet of 12 bifolia, sewn (182 x 120 mm). Light toning, stray spots, marginal closed tear to page 15. In green wrappers printed black, front wrapper with title ruled in decorative border; wrapper browned and rubbed, with a little soiling and abrasion to cover.

First edition. "This little treatise is published with the intention that its readers may astonish the minds, weak or strong, of their friends and relations, with such things as are to be found in every house, or may be easily obtained."

Joseph Michael Hartz, a notable English performer who specialized in "crystal magic," here teaches the methods to nineteen illusions and tricks, including "The Nut Trick," "The Fire Eater," "To Eat a Peck of Shavings and convert them into Ribbon," "How to Burn a Pocket Handkerchief and return it whole again to its owner," "The Card told by the Opera Glass"—along with revealing the secrets to mind-reading in "'Clairvoyance' Explained."

Rare: our research is unable to find a record of this edition being offered at auction.