1890s Modern Magic-A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring by Professor Hoffman / Early Edition of the Seminal Magic Book / Illustrated

Here is a lovely antique copy of the classic Modern Magic A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring by Professor Hoffman. Undated but would have been published in the 1890s by George Routledge and Sons, London. Richly illustrated. The contents are in good condition, with some wear to the cloth boards (detailed below), but remaining a super antique copy.

Modern Magic is a seminal work in the field of magic, first published in 1876. A comprehensive guide covering a wide range of magic tricks and techniques, including sleight-of-hand with cards, coins, and other objects.

It is notable for being one of the first to provide detailed instructions on performing magic tricks, making it accessible to aspiring magicians. The book includes advice on the appearance, dress, and staging of a magician, as well as descriptions of various tricks and large stage illusions. Harry Houdini was one of its admirers.

Inside this copy the pages are clean and tightly bound with no writing or inscriptions. With mild tanning to the endpapers, and tanning/spotting to the closed outside edges. Richly illustrated throughout with black and white diagrams.

Olive-green cloth covered boards have black and red decoration to the front and spine. With rubbing and rounding to the corners and spine ends. Revealing boards at corner tips. Has a small split to the cloth at the head of the spine. With a tear to the cloth half-way down the rear spine joint - this has been repaired (see close-up photos). Some faint marks to the front, a small stain mark to the rear board and rubbing to the green on the rear edge. The decoration remains bright and the hinges strong.

An extremely comprehensive resource which also looks eye-catching on display.

Your antique copy of Modern Magic will be wrapped with care in tissue and ribbon and sent well packaged*. I am always happy to add a gift card with a message to the parcel.

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H 20 cm x W 15 cm, 511 pages, 0.67 kg. I dispatch worldwide daily from the UK. With the exception of a small number of countries.

* If you would prefer for your book not to be decoratively wrapped but sent simply in the full protective packaging, please add a note to the order.

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