German-language Blow Book.
(N.p. c. 1870). 24mo. Unpaginated. With copious illustrations in both color and monochrome. Blow books are classic magic tricks, most popular through the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. The magician presents the book and rifles through it, showing a set of like illustrations. Then with the book closed, he or she has an audience member blow on the cover. The magician rifles through the book again, now showing an entirely different set of images. The trick functions through tabbed divisions in the leaves; the magician's thumb rests on one, then after the audience member's breath, he or she smoothly selects another. The present volume contains images of animals, alphabets, stamps, silhouettes, and men and women of different occupations. Bound in red wrappers. Minor chipping to extremities, wrappers split along spine, though binding secure; otherwise, a near fine parlor trick for any festive gathering. Item #32774
Price: $2,750.00