RITSON, Richard (1896 ? 1969). Notebook of Magic Secrets and Formulas. Circa 1940. A 111-page notebook bearing the typed title label ?Magical Notes / Wu Ling / the / Magical Mandarin.? Over half of the pages (rectos only) filled with precise and easily readable notes on the methods behind and construction of popular and lesser-known magic tricks of the ?golden age? and beyond, including Aerial Fishing, Doves & Tray as performed by Chefalo, Peter Warlock?s Handkerchief Vanish, Tan Hock Chuan?s Bill from Cigarette, Will Bland?s Triangle Cabinet Illusion, Selbit?s Expanding Willow Pattern Plate, Abbott?s Super-X Levitation, book tests, coin effects, and tantalizing information about the construction of Servais LeRoy?s Asrah, and other stage illusions. With a handwritten index on the first leaf, and numerous finely-rendered and some hand-colored illustrations explaining the construction and working of the effects. Also included are the formulas for several chemical preparations helpful to magicians. A neat and remarkable record of conjuring apparatus and the methods behind many stage tricks.