Hartz Joseph Michael (1 results)

Octavo, 7.75 x 4.75", beige illustrated wrappers, 24 pp. An early American magic guide by Joseph Michael Hartz, a pioneering vaudeville performer and magician who started his career in London before emigrating to the New York in 1866 together with his brother, Augustus. There, they opened the "Magical Repository," which, according to some sources, may have been the first American magic shop. According to the preface, "This little treatise is published with the intention that its readers may astonish the minds, weak or strong, of their friends and relations, with such things as are to be found in every house, or may be easily obtained." It contains instructions for 19 tricks, including "The Nut Trick," "The Fire Eater," "To Eat a Peck of Shavings and convert them into Ribbon," "How to Burn a Pocket Handkerchief and return it whole again to its owner," and "The Card told by the Opera Glass." There are also 3.5 pages devoted to mind-reading, headed "'Clairvoyance' Explained." Three in OCLC, for editions published in 1864, 1866, and 1869. We locate two recent auction records as well ($2520 at Sotheby's, The Ricky Jay Sale, 2021, and $2160, Potter and Potter, 2017). A very good copy with creasing to text block and wrappers, including a vertical crease through the center of the booklet.