This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/26/2024
RITSON, Richard (1896 – 1969). Notebook of Magic Secrets and Formulas. Circa 1940. A 111-page notebook bearing the typed title label “Magical Notes / Wu Ling / the / Magical Mandarin.” Over half of the pages (rectos only) filled with precise and easily readable notes on the methods behind and construction of popular and lesser-known magic tricks of the “golden age” and beyond, including Aerial Fishing, Doves & Tray as performed by Chefalo, Peter Warlock’s Handkerchief Vanish, Tan Hock Chuan’s Bill from Cigarette, Will Bland’s Triangle Cabinet Illusion, Selbit’s Expanding Willow Pattern Plate, Abbott’s Super-X Levitation, book tests, coin effects, and tantalizing information about the construction of Servais LeRoy’s Asrah, and other stage illusions. With a handwritten index on the first leaf, and numerous finely-rendered and some hand-colored illustrations explaining the construction and working of the effects. Also included are the formulas for several chemical preparations helpful to magicians. A neat and remarkable record of conjuring apparatus and the methods behind many stage tricks.