FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY
FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY
FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY
FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY
FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY
FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY
FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY
FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY
FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY
FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY
FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY
FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY

FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE - Signor Blitz, 1872 - MAGIC TRICKS NECROMANCY

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Title: Fifty Years in the Magic Circle; Being an Account of the Author's Professional Life; His Wonderful Tricks and Feats; with Laughable Incidents, and Adventures as a Magician, Necromancer, and Ventriloquist.

Author: Signor Blitz
Publisher: Belknap & Bliss
City: Hartford, Conn.
Year: 1872
Binding Style: Hardcover
Pagination: 432
Illustrated: Yes

Book Details + Condition: Fifty Years in the Magic Circle; Being an Account of the Author's Professional Life; His Wonderful Tricks and Feats; with Laughable Incidents, and Adventures as a Magician, Necromancer, and Ventriloquist. (1872), by Signor Blitz. Illustrated with numerous engravings and portrait of the author on steel. Publisher's original decorated green cloth boards. In good condition: Some shelf wear; rubbing to corners and slight fraying to spine ends; binding is tight and solid; the pages are free of interior markings. Please see pictures for further condition and detail. Ex Libris bookplate present of James B. Alfredson on the front inside board; Alfredson (1937-2015) was the author of several biographies about magicians, and a co-compiler of the landmark bibliography of magic periodicals. Author Signor Blitz (1810-1877) born Antonio van Zandt in Deal Kent County, England, was an accomplished magician, ventriloquist (with his dummy Bobby), juggler and bird handler. He would advertise himself as a Moravian as he found he could get more work in England as a foreigner. He even perpetuated the myth in his autobiography. Please see below for more information on Signor Blitz' life and work.

Biography


Antonio Blitz arrived in America from Europe in 1834. He was a great showman who used magic in his acts usually accompanied by humor. Laughter and mystification were his goals. At the height of his career, a dozen other magicians were performing under the name "Blitz" in an effort to capitalize on his popularity. His favorite effect was the Bullet Catching act (but eventually dropped it as being too dangerous) and Plate Spinning. He was living in Philadelphia at the time of his death where gave lessons from his home. His grave was later rediscovered in New York by Benjilini and has since been restored.