Potter & Potter Auctions
Live Auction

The Ricky Jay Collection

Sat, Feb 25, 2023 12:00PM EST
Lot 300

ROLTAIR, Henry (1853 – 1910). Roltair’s Illusions. Circa 18...

Estimate: $400 - $600

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$0 $5
$30 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
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$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
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$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
ROLTAIR, Henry (1853 ? 1910). Roltair?s Illusions. Circa 1890. Bright blue publisher?s wrappers lettered and printed in gold. [1], 2 ? 16, 16mo. Wraps chipped, short tears, old vertical fold. Good. The first example we have encountered. Roltair is acknowledged as a pioneer of fairground spectacles and illusions at Coney Island and elsewhere, and including the construction of an upside-down house, Spidora (Spider Girl illusion), and Creation, a two-hour long ride that was said to show viewers the creation of the world. This pitchbook is curious in that it teaches only a few card tricks, devoting as much if not more space to divulging (without illustrations) the methods behind small sideshow illusions like The Living Head in a Bottle, The Aerial Suspension, and The Sphinx or Decapitated Head.