Sender: Rare Books and Special Collections Forum <EXLIBRIS@RUTVM1.BITNET>
I am posting a query on behalf of Ricky Jay (author of LEARNED PIGS AND
FIREPROOF WOMEN), who is writing a history of "trick magic books" for the
Writers and Artists Series published by the Whitney Museum. Any information
or advice will be forwarded directly to him. Here is his query:
Trick magic books were called by many names, but within the magic
profession are most frequently referred to as "Blow Books", the name deriving
from the physical action of the conjurer "blowing" on the leaves to make
them change. A conjurer would hold such a book with the spine resting in
the palm of one hand; with the other hand he riffled the pages so the
spectator could view the pages as they passed by. The first time the book
was riffled all the leaves might show drawings of flowers, but when the
riffling action was repeated the flowers would have vanished and all the
images might be of animals; repeated again, the animals would seem to dis-
appear and drawings of harlequins would be seen instead. Often as many as
ten sets of leaves would be shown. Blow books were widely known and
described in the 16th century; they were produced in the 17th, 18th, and
19th centuries; and they are still used in conjuring performances today.
The distinguishing physical characteristics of these books are the way
in which the individual leaves were cut. The leaves have tabs extending
from different parts of the page not unlike modern file folders. As the
conjurer's thumb moved up or down the page, and riffled specific tabs,
only the images on the pages cut in that particular configuration
would appear to the spectator.
These books are likely to have been catalogued under titles such as
AMBIGU COMIQUE, MAGIC PICTURE BOOK, ENCHANTED ALBUM, BILDER ZAUBERER,
FLIK-FLIK, GRIMOIRE MYSTERIEUX, etc. I would appreciate hearing from
librarians who might know where I could find examples of these publications
or information about them.