Magical Originalities: A Chat on Practical Magic

Tight binding. Early hardcover edition published by George Johnson & Sons, London. No dust jacket present. Red cloth boards with gilt decoration and lettering remain attractive with moderate shelf wear, rubbing, and edge wear consistent with age. Pages are clean with light age toning. Features a vintage Martinka & Co. New York ownership stamp on the title page. Signed and inscribed by noted magician Richard Robinson to New York City and dated January 1981. From the personal library and estate of Richard Robinson. Please Zoom Photos. Description Classic early twentieth-century work on practical magic by Ernest E. Noakes, featuring original routines, performance ideas, presentations, and professional advice for magicians. The volume includes a preface by legendary magician and inventor J. N. Maskelyne and was written by one of the most respected figures in British magic, Ernest E. Noakes, Honorary Vice-President of The Magic Circle. This copy possesses exceptional magic provenance. It bears the historic ownership stamp of Martinka & Co., one of the most important magic dealers in American history. Founded in New York during the nineteenth century, Martinka became the premier supplier of magical apparatus and literature to professional magicians. The firm is especially notable because it was owned by Harry Houdini during the latter part of his career. Original Martinka stamps are highly desirable to collectors of magic memorabilia and literature. Additionally, this volume was owned and signed by Richard Robinson, better known as "The Science Magician." Robinson was a respected performer, lecturer, author, and educator who spent decades combining science and magic in educational programs. He authored numerous books and publications and assembled an extensive research library devoted to magic history and performance. Material from the Richard Robinson estate is increasingly sought after by collectors due to his contributions to the preservation and study of magical literature. An outstanding provenance copy combining an important early magic title, a historic Martinka & Co. ownership stamp, and documented Richard Robinson estate provenance.