The sharper detected and exposed

London: Chapman and Hall, 1863. First edition in English, translated from Les tricheries de Grecs dévoilées:l'art de gagnerà tous les jeux (Paris, 1861); 8vo, pp. xii, 268; text illustrations; custom gilt-ruled half red morocco gilt-decorated spine in 6 compartments, morocco labels in 2, gilt ends and turn-ins, t.e.g., the binding signed GAZ (the accomplished bibliophile and hobby binder George Albert Zabriskie); gift inscription on flyleaf reading: Dear Joe: I don't know any better card shark to give this to than you. With best wishes of 'the finisher' Geo." Two small playing card bookplates one each free endpaper, without attribution; edges lightly (truncated) rubbed, spot of loss on title label on spine. A very good and handsome volume with interesting layers of provenance. "So remarkable were the innovations that Robert-Houdin introduced to stage illusions that he has been called the father of modern magic. By profession a clockmaker, he was born Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin in Blois, France, in 1805. His debut as a magician was in 1845 in Paris. He was the first magician to use electricity; he perfected the thought-transference trick; and he used common objects to create illusions instead of complicated pieces of machinery. He also denounced magicians who claimed psychic powers or supernatural help for their tricks. Robert-Houdin is the man from whom the American magician Harry Houdini took his name a generation later." Clarke & Blind, p. 65. (Inventory #: 54026)