This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/9/2023
ROBERT-HOUDIN, Jean Eugène (1805 – 71). Quadrille Mignonette des Soirées Fantastiques de Robert-Houdin. Paris: Chez Chabal, ca. 1845 [?]. Miniature souvenir sheet music bound in gilt-decorated maroon textured paper. Five short pieces of music composed by Aristide Le Carpentier reproduced within, each headed by a charming engraving of a feat from the magician’s repertoire, including the Pastry Cook of the Palais Royal, the Orange Tree, and the Cabalistic Clock, with lines of verse preceding the bars of music. [1] 2 – 11, [12]; 12mo. Foxed, with minor edgewear, but very good overall. The first example we have offered for sale; RARE.
These tiny musical sheets were distributed to attendees of Robert-Houdin’s performances after being produced from apparent nothingness, from a prop known as the Cone of Abundance. Alongside the music appeared souvenir fans and other ephemeral items, all now highly sought after and scarce. Robert-Houdin considered Le Carpentier, “one of my best and closest friends”