Salon de Magie: The Klosterman Collection Part I

Germain, Karl (Charles Mattmuller) Karl Germain’s Magic Notebook. Circa 1900. Twenty-five lined leaves in Germain’s hand, filled with notes, sketches, lines of patter and ideas for scripts, as well as instructions for many of the effects in his repertoire. Among the effects diagrammed and described are the stage setting for an early version of his Rose Bush (indicating the use of a Sphinx Table as opposed to the method he finally relied upon, Germain’s calling it a “table ala Stodare”), the production of live doves, a decapitation illusion (incorporating an interesting use of the de Kolta Chair), the Artist’s Dream illusion, novel methods for a spirit séance, and many pages of handwritten patter for tricks with slates, the Wine & Water transformation, a knot routine, effects with eggs, and more. Approximately 8vo, with penciled and inked notations primarily to rectos. Loose pages with ragged edges; Klosterman rubber stamp in lower corners. A unique record of the wizard’s most famous effects, and a revealing look at the ideas and methods that would develop in to some of his greatest and most artistic illusions.