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Literature of Legerdemain

Sat, Feb 28, 2026 11:00AM EST
  2026-02-28 11:00:00 2026-02-28 11:00:00 America/New_York Potter & Potter Auctions Potter & Potter Auctions : Literature of Legerdemain https://auction.potterauctions.com/auctions/potter-potter/literature-of-legerdemain-22201
Featuring the collection of magic bibliographer Stephen Forrester, this premier sale will feature highlights from his library of rare, old, and unusual conjuring books from the seventeenth century to the present day. Purchase Catalog
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Lot 14

The Conjuror's Magazine; or, Magical and Physiognomical Mir...

Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Starting Bid
$1,000

Bid Increments

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The Conjuror's Magazine; or, Magical and Physiognomical Mirror; Including a Superb Edition of Lavater's Essays on Phyiognomy. [Vols. I and II.] Plus, The Astrologer’s Magazine and Philosophical Miscellany [a. k. a. vol. III of The Conjuror’s Magazine]. London: Printed for W. Locke, 1792-1794. Three 8vo volumes. two in quarter leather over marbled boards, the third volume (Vol. I) in modern full brown cloth. In all, 30 monthly issues, nearly complete. Engraved frontispieces in vols. I and II, with illustrations in text (Lavater plates missing, as is common), engraved title-page (no frontispiece) in vol. III. [5, sic]–233/334[sic]-494, [4, Index]; [1]-[106/99 (sic)]-120/129 (sic)-383/395 (sic)-450/457 (unclear if pp. 451-456 are missing)-520 (lacks Index); [1]-16/9 (sic)-56/49 (sic)-94/93 (sic)-93/96 (sic)-250, [2, Index] (lacks pp. 209-228). Running from August 1791 to January 1794 (January 1792 is apparently mis-labeled February 1792, so there are two different issues (January and February) dated February 1792). Vol. III is The Astrologer's Magazine, the title adopted by this periodical beginning in 1793. Typical wear to bindings, hinges, usual browning and soiling, ownership markings, some dampstaining in vol. III, but generally clean and attractive. Volume II with bookplate of magician/collector Roland Winder, vol. I with bookplate of George Hastings Cox, other ownership signatures throughout. FIRST EDITION OF ALL ISSUES of “the first periodical known to include conjuring.” Toole Stott 179.

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