The conjurer unmasked : being a clear and full explanation of all the surprizing performances exhibited as well in this kingdom as on the continent by the most eminent and dexterous professors of slight of hand : together with the tricks of the divining rod, automaton chess-player, speaking figure, artificial serpents, mechanical birds, automaton flute player, vaulting figure, magical table, perpetual motion, &c., &c

"... Decremps wrote and published a series of books purportedly to expose all the tricks of [Giuseppe] Pinetti. The first book, La Magie Blanche, appeared in Paris while Pinetti was still playing there in 1784. The first book was followed by Supplement a la Magie Blanche Devoilee, Testament de Jerome Sharp, Codicille de Jerome Sharp, and others. ... they did have a devastating effect on Pinetti as well as on other practitioners of the mystic art, despite the fact that Decremp's explanations were largely guesswork. ..." D. Price. Magic, 1985, p. 40 ff.

Signatures: pi‌² a⁴ A-L⁶.

Bookseller's advertisments: [2] p. at end.

LC copy has minor annotation in the hand of Houdini, and his autograph, dated 1903. With a typescript correction to the text of page 47 mounted on p. [2] of cover. Bookbinder's ticket of R. Hynes, Dover. Ink stamp of Houdini. Inscription: To W. Murray.

pinetti giuseppe magic tricks early works to 1800 rare book selections rare book and special collections division henri decremps thomas denton harry houdini collection library of congress mcmanus young collection library of congress figure automaton flute player automaton chess player dexterous professors high resolution

01/01/1790

Library of Congress

https://www.loc.gov/

Public Domain