“THE EXPOSÉ OF STAGE ILLUSIONS”: HOPKINS’ CLASSIC MAGIC, STAGE ILLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC DIVERSIONS

HOPKINS, Albert A. Magic; Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions, Including Trick Photography. New York: Munn, 1901. Quarto, original pictorial green cloth. $500.

1901 edition of Hopkins scarce authoritative work on magic—tracing its practice from the early Egyptians through to the ingenuity of 19th-century magicians and sleight-of-hand artists, along with the visual illusions of early photography and cinema, with frontispiece and over 400 illustrations, many full page, in original pictorial cloth.

Hopkins' fascinating early authoritative classic on magic and magicians features "many of the best illusions of Robert-Houdin, Dr. Lynn, Professor Pepper, Bautier de Kolta, Heller, Herrmann, Maskeleyne and Cooke, and Kellar," as well as extensive coverage of visual illusions as practiced in early Egypt, Greece and Rome, sections on conjuring tricks, theatrical secrets, "second-sight" mysteries, ventriloquism, photographic illusions, toys and games, and much more, along with a closing chapter on early cinema, including descriptions of Edison's Kinetoscope and Vitascope. Preceded by the 1897 first edition. With frontispiece of "The Skirt Dance" which was inspired by photographs by Muybridge and a dance popularized by Loie Fuller, along with 400 illustrations, many full page. Partially based on articles in Scientific American and Scientific American Supplement. With an introduction by Henry Ridgely Evans, and an extensive early bibliography of "Works on Natural Magic." Bookplate.

Interior extremely good. Portrait of Alexander Herrmann on page 21 excised, affecting verso. Inner paper hinges starting, binding sound; a few minor abrasions to original cloth. A very good copy.