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Later Magic - Professor Hoffmann (1904 First Edition) Rare Ex-Library:
$58.21
Later Magic - Professor Hoffmann (1904 First Edition) Rare Ex-Library George Routledge Author: Professor Hoffmann (Angelo Lewis)Book Title: Later MagicPublisher: George Routledge & Sons, Limited (London) / E. P. Dutton & Co. (New York)Publication Year: Circa 1904 (True First Edition)Format: Cloth Hardcover (Ex-Library Institutional Binding)Illustrations: 220 Original Woodcuts & Technical DiagramsPages: 554 pagesGenre: Antiquarian Magic History, Stage Illusions, Mechanical Magic Apparatus
Up for sale is a genuine 1904 First Edition copy of Professor Hoffmann’s monumental masterpiece, Later Magic. Published by George Routledge & Sons, this scarce volume is one of the definitive textbooks documenting the golden age of drawing-room and stage illusions.Unlike later reprints, this true first edition contains the original 554-page layout featuring 220 highly detailed technical woodcuts and engravings. It unmasks the micro-mechanics of historical stage gear directly from the personal repertoires of the era's greatest magicians.🎩 Legendary Magic Secrets & Explanations Inside:- David Devant’s Masterclasses: Includes full engineering breakdowns and stage setups for The Magic Organ Pipes (Le Souper du Diable), Jar of Water and Hat, and The Bag of Mystery.
- Conradi of Dresden Mechanics: Features detailed technical schematics for A Glass of Wine Passed Visibly Through the Crown of a Hat using specialized piston-table systems.
- Herr Willmann’s Inventions: Discloses the hidden internal winding ratchets, spring barrels, and catgut lines for his famous mechanical pocket Pulls and Improved Egg-Holders.
- Sleight-of-Hand Utilities: Detailed cross-sections of legendary props including The Spider coin-vanishing clip, The Changing Die tin-shell system, and Hamley's mechanical pulling partition for Color-Changing Handkerchiefs.
- The Conjurer's Dress: Fascinating structural tailored modifications mapping out the placement of Pochettes and Profondes hidden inside a formal evening dress coat.
đź“ś Historical Provenance:This copy features exceptional institutional history, originally belonging to the Borough of Lambeth Public Libraries (North Lambeth Lending Library, 74 Lower Marsh, S.E.1). It retains the large vintage library rules and fines plate on the inner board, a handwritten catalog slip, and neat violet library stamps on the title and intro pages.
Thorough Condition DetailsPlease review all 20 photos meticulously to assess the condition of this antique volume. This is an ex-library copy that was well-read over the past century and is sold with known defects:- The Book is Bone Dry: The entire volume is structurally bone dry, firm, and completely free from active moisture or mustiness.
- Water Staining: There is historic, long-dried water wrinkling and localised staining primarily visible on the inner front boards, library plate, and faintly along the lower gutter of the early preface pages.
- Hinges & Binding: The internal paper hinge along the front spine gutter is heavily split, and the front endpaper is torn away over the joint, leaving the front cover board tenderly attached. The raw binding mesh underneath is exposed.
- Spine & Boards: The brown cloth binding shows standard antique rubbing, scuffing, bumped corners, and minor fraying/chipping to the spine headcaps. The original gold-foil spine text remains clear alongside the painted library shelf number (H 587).
- Internal Pages: The right-hand blank flyleaf has been largely torn out near the gutter. Aside from historical library markings and minor handling smudges, the internal pages are remarkably clean, flat, and fully legible. The 220 classic diagrams remain crisp and completely unobstructed.
Despite it's poor condition, this remains an accessible copy for a magic historian or a collector who loves unique provenance.I ship Royal Mail 48hrs tracked & Global Shipping welcome (From Cornwall UK)
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