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Archive: July 2021 (8 Posts)

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

It’s Magic! Ye Olde Hocus Pocus

Posted by: Neely Tucker

The earliest known English-language work on magic was published in England in 1635, containing how-tos for many tricks, including an on-stage decapitation. It's the forerunner of the "saw the assistant in half" trick, performed for ages. The Library's copy of this influential book comes from the library of Harry Houdini, the master magician and escape artist of the early 20th century, who donated his collection to the Library.