Signed; Decremps (Henri). - Supplément à la Magie blanche dévoilée - 1785

Decremps (Henri).
Supplement to White Magic Unveiled, containing the explanation of several new tricks recently performed in London, with clarifications on the artifices of professional conjurers, sympathetic clocks, perpetual motion, learned animals, talking dolls, dancing automatons, ventriloquists, elastic clogs, etc.
Paris, at the Author, rue des Rats, opposite that of the Trois-Portes, near Place Maubert, 1785.

In-8, VI-286 pp., errata and terminal leaf of authentication. Title fully engraved, frontispiece, 2 copper-engraved plates and 25 wood-engraved figures in the text; complete set of the 29 figures announced in the title. Stitched, untrimmed, under a blue-gray wrapper of the period.

Rare original edition of this important sequel to White Magic Unveiled. Decremps reveals the procedures of illusionists and professional players: feats of dexterity, sleight of hand, perpetual movements, sympathetic clocks, learned animals, talking dolls, automatons, ventriloquy, and balance experiments. The work continues his project of demystifying the supposed prodigies of Giuseppe Pinetti.

Remarkable copy authenticated by the author. The notice specifies that the “true edition” must preserve its last leaf “signed, paraphed, incised & numbered.” The present copy possesses this leaf deliberately cut, bearing the autograph signature and the large paraph of Henri Decremps, as well as the manuscript number 669. This anti-counterfeiting device, often absent from preserved copies, constitutes a bibliographical peculiarity particularly sought after.

Complete copy, remaining in its fragile original condition. Significant damp-staining mainly at margins, some browning, stains and soiling; edges untrimmed, frayed with small marginal tears, stitching weakened; cover worn with losses. Text and illustrations generally well preserved. The large cut of the terminal leaf is intentional and belongs to the original authentication process.

Reference: cf. Rosenthal, Bibliotheca Magica et Pneumatica, no. 8648, which notes only the 1788 edition.