Ernest E. Noakes - Magical Originalities [Signed] - 1914

Magical Originalities
A Chat on Practical Magic

Signed Copy (only First Editions are signed) of this rare, and collectible guide to early 20th-century magic tricks and illusions, by Ernest E. Noakes (1873-1956), a noted London society magician and member of The Magic Circle. The book features "chats" on various practical magic methods, reflecting the style of performance for society magicians of that era. It is considered a significant, albeit obscure, text in the history of British magic literature.

Introduced by J.N. Maskelyne, it contains coin sleights, bowl transformations, playing card effects, and other physical tricks such as revolving blocks and decanter routines. Noakes presents the techniques in a direct, performance-oriented style with clear titles indicating method categories.

The book is nicely presented and illustrated. Published by G. Bell & Sons, London, 1914. Publisher’s original red cloth, with gilt lettering and gilt magician vignette on the front board. Spine titled in gilt. Top page edges gilt.

Book Dimensions: 19 x 13 cm and Number of Pages: 161 + 2 pages of adverts at rear.

Condition
External covers with light wear to corners and spine ends, and showing damp marks to front and rare edges. Internally; the book in good condition. Some colour bleeding to inside front and rear boards. Small labels to the inside front boards and title page, and pencil name on the first blank front free endpaper page. Pages are clean with occasional light foxing on the margin of few pages and page edges. Inner hinges are very good, and pages are tightly held at gutters. All illustrations are present and in very nice condition (Please see pictures).