1883 - LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC - DAVID BREWSTER Magic Tricks, Magicians, Occult

  LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC — By Sir David Brewster, With Chapters On The Being & Faculties Of Man, And Additional Phenomena Of Natural Magic — 1883 — Magic Tricks, Optical Illusions, Alchemy, Chemistry, Special Forces, Conjuring Spirits

 Publisher: Chatto & Windus, London (1883)

In well preserved condition. The boards and binding are solid and tight save for some shelfwear. The pages are crisp and clean save for three very small professionally repaired tears on the Table of Contents page. Dark teal blue boards with gilt decorations and title on front and on spine. 424 pages, with 32 pp of publisher book advertisements at rear. In his compilation of "Letters on Natural Magic," former child prodigy David Brewster (1781-1868), who invented and named the kaleidoscope in 1816, discussed various natural phenomena as used in magic such as: optical illusions, spectral illusions, magic lantern, feats of strength, automata, Babbage's calculating machines, ventriloquism, wonders of chemistry, alchemy, breathing fire, and spontaneous combustion.