[Magical Blow Book/Flip Book]

London, 1840. MAGIC AND CONJURING. The Enchanted Scrapbook; Exhibiting Pictures, Which Appears and Vanishes at the Word Command. E. Wallis, London, [n.d.c.a 1840].

Small octavo (7 x 5 inches; 178 x 125 mm). This copy in contemporary floral embossed pink cloth. With matching topped slipcase. Slipcase stamped and lettered in gilt on front. Previous owner's old ink inscription on front blank, dated 1840. Internally all plates are generally clean and bright. A few smudges and a light dampstain. One leaf with a bird/solider has a closed tear, which has been invisibly repaired. Another leaf with a dancer/ ship has a large tear with a missing piece but it does not affect the illustration. Some minor sunning to spine and edges, cloth is splitting along hinge at top of spine. Slipcase is sunned and a bit worn. Overall a very good copy, especially rare in the original slipcase.

With a total of 48 leaves. With twelve each of seven different full color illustrations of which include a Saint, a captive bird, a soldier, a solider on horseback, a ship, a dancer, and a man with bear.

A beautiful copy of a magical blow book or flip book (also known as a magic coloring book). This type of trick is considered the oldest example of a "manufactured prop" to be used for magic. It works by a series of small notches, or incisions in the fore-margin to create tabs and depending on where the magician places their thumb, they flip the leaves of a certain group, revealing one set of plates. Then with a movement of the finger placement, a new set of plates will be revealed.

HBS 68354.

$5,000.