This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/9/2023
[DEVANT] MASKELYNE, Nevil and David Devant. Our Magic. London: George Routledge & Sons, [1911]. Publisher’s pictorial cloth bearing the image of a wizard (significantly rubbed and worn, neatly rebacked). Portrait frontispiece of Maskelyne behind tissue, illustrated with plates and drawings. Thick 8vo. Foxed, corners bumped, shelfworn. INSCRIBED AND INITIALED on the front pastedown: “With my best wishes / DD” and with the inked notation on the flyleaf: “Presented to me in June 1919 by the part author Mr. Devant at Brighton / El Kay.” The first presentation copy of this work we have offered, and the first with Devant’s initials or signature. SCARCE.
This is the first copy of Our Magic we have seen signed by Devant (1868-1941). Devant inscribed this book in June 1919, and in the following year, at his peak, was forced to retire from the stage due to the effects of Parkinson’s Disease. Eventually, worsening symptoms left Devant unable to sign his own name, and his letters were dictated. Still, he authored several books, including his memoirs, “My Magic Life,” published in 1931.