[Magical Blow Book/Flip Book]

MAGIC AND CONJURING

Published by London, 1840

About this Item

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.

Seller Inventory # 68354

Bibliographic Details

• Title: [Magical Blow Book/Flip Book]
• Publisher: London
• Publication Date: 1840
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: MAGIC AND CONJURING
• Seller catalogs:
  • Magic and Conjuring
  • Illustrated Books
  • Children