KATTERFELTO, Gustavus (c. 1743 - 99). Dr. Katterfelto, M.D. Professor and Teacher of Natural Experimental Philosophy. Newcastle-Upon-Tyne [?], ca. 1780. Letterpress broadside advertises the appearance of this “doctor” who was also a noted conjurer and is considered by some historians to be the first presenter of the Bullet Catching trick. Thirty-nine parts of the program are described in detail, including various mechanical devices (orreries, optical apparatus, camera obscura, his famous solar microscope) and natural phenomena (gravity, pneumatics, magnetism, electricity) that will be demonstrated.
Partially affixed to an old album page in the left margin, with old folds and minor staining, but very good condition overall for a bill of this age. The verso of the bill bears an ALS in Katterfelto’s hand, as the bill was formed into a Stampless Folded Letter (SLF), and a portion of the original sealing wax is retained.
It reads, in full (original spelling preserved): “Sir, This fw liens is to inform yu that the Rev Mr Turner – and Mr Boyd and som other gentleman of the Philosophical Sosiety and other Ladies and gentleman are to com this Present Evning to one of my Lettures &c &c So if yu & your Ladie or Shister can well wpare tim this Evning shall also be glad to see yu. Sir, I am your Most Hbl Dr. Katterfelto.” All Katterfelto material is RARE; this is perhaps the ONLY KNOWN SURVIVING letter written by this early and influential conjurer.
Dr. Dawes wrote extensively about Katterfelto and these objects in his “Rich Cabinet of Magical Curiosities,” in 1974 and 1989. We can do no better than to quote him directly:
“Gustavus Katterfelto has, understandably, attracted the attention of many writers, both magical and non-magical. His claim to fame stems not only from his conjuring activities but also from his role as a quack doctor and late eighteenth century forerunner of “Doctor” Walford Bodie. Katterfelto appears to have been one of the first conjurers to style himself “Doctor “, and he used “ Colonel “ too, thus antedating Stodare and others of the nineteenth century.
“Of Prussian origin, Katterfelto appeared at Cox’s Museum in Spring Gardens, London, in the Spring of 1781 when he featured, besides conjuring, an expose of cheating with cards and dice.
“His later years represent a sorry tale of misfortune and the glory of his London seasons faded into the insignificance of an itinerant performer barely eking out an existence. He is generally believed to have died at Bedale in Yorkshire in 1799.
“However, Katterfelto’s fame in the annals of conjuring is secure and it is sufficient to recall that his impact on contemporary London Society was such that not only the cartoonists but also that unhappy poet William Cowper (1731-1800) mentioned him in his poem, The Task (1785).”
And Katterfelto, with his hair on end
at his own wonders,
Wondering for his bread.