Vintage 1944 Illustrated Magic by Ottokar Fischer - Hardcover with Dust Jacket For Sale

Vintage 1944 Illustrated Magic by Ottokar Fischer
Item Specifics:

• Author: Ottokar Fischer
• Publisher: The Macmillan Company
• Year Printed: 1944
• Binding: Hardcover with Dust Jacket
• Subject: Magic, Illusion, & Sleight of Hand
• Language: English
• Special Attributes: Illustrated

Description:Up for sale is a rare vintage copy of "Illustrated Magic" by Ottokar Fischer, from the 1944 printing. Originally translated from the German classic Das Wunderbuch der Magie, this book remains one of the most comprehensive and highly regarded foundational texts on the mechanics, history, and performance of magic.Written by an internationally known authority on the art, this volume provides a fascinating, deep-dive look into the classic secrets of the craft. It covers a massive breadth of magical disciplines, featuring professional methods, amateur effects, and historical performance breakdowns.Inside this classic text, you will find detailed explanations and historical illustrations covering:

• Secrets of Magical Apparatus: The inner workings of classic mechanical stage illusions.
• Feats of Dexterity & Skill: Comprehensive guides to sleight-of-hand card effects and coin manipulation.
• Gimmicks & Accessories: The hidden fakes, holds, and utilities used by professional performers.
• Mentalism & Telepathy: Early foundational systems for mind reading and clairvoyance.
• Escapes: The secrets behind classic chain, handcuff, and iron neck escape acts popular in the Houdini era.
• Vest-Pocket Magic: Impromptu tricks, mathematical curiosities, and close-up puzzles.

Condition Notes:

• Dust Jacket: Present. Features highly vivid, bright original colors. Shows significant wear along the edges, corners, and spine, with some light water marking in the lower right front corner (see photos).
• Hardback Cover: In excellent condition, structurally sound with clean boards.
• Interior Pages & Binding: Excellent condition. The pages are clean, crisp, and fully intact. Secure, tight binding.

A stellar, highly collectible addition to any bookshelf, perfect for practicing magicians looking to master vintage principles, antiquarian magic literature collectors, or historians of the variety arts.Shipping & Handling:

• Shipped securely packaged in a padded envelope.
• Tracking included. Combined shipping available if you are purchasing multiple vintage items from my store.