Conjuring.- Anonymous (circa 1757) [Advertisement broadside with the tricks of the magicians Johann Antoni Barth and Gottlieb Riediger], 21 vignettes illustrating various tricks, with brief descriptions below in German, with title cartouche in the upper margin, engraving, on thin laid paper affixed onto later wove paper support, sheet 227 x 287 mm (8 7/8 x 11 1/4 in), numbered in ink '31' int eh upper right corner, some marginal losses to the lower left corner, otherwise minor surface dirt, unframed, [circa 1757]
⁂ Among the repertoire of tricks illustrated, a number include various live animal-based tricks, including the infamous "Death by Shadow" trick; a cruel stage effect in which a live bird was mysteriously killed, later visually decapitated, as the performer drew the tip of his sword across the neck of the bird's painted image or shadow. We can trace only one other example, held in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg.
A limited number of printed catalogues are available to purchase for this auction.
UK: £35 (incl. postage)
Rest of World: £50 (incl. postage)
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