HOUDIN, Robert – Album des Soirées Fantastiques de Robert Houdin au Palais-Royal. Tome Second. (Title on binding: Souvenir des Soirées Fantastiques de Robert Houdin au Palais-Royal. Edition illustrée. Tome second) (Paris, (Lemercier and Guiraudet), (c.1849). Oblong-8vo (10,5 x 14,3 cm). Orig. ill. wrappers. 21 leaves, with full page lithographed Portrait of Houdin and 8 full page wood engravings.
First edition. – Extremely rare Souvenir booklet. There exists also a first volume, which is also very rare, but this second volume is practically undetectable. The woodcut engravings depicting several of his most famous feats: Le Chasseur et la Colonne au gant; La Suspension éthéréenne; La Pêche merveilleuse; La Pendule aérienne; Le Pâtissier (Automate); Le Foulard aux surprises; Le Génie des Roses (Automate); L’Oranger. – The portrait is printed on slighty different and thicker paper by Lemercier. The text leaves are printed by Guiraudet. A lengthy program of over 40 effects in the magician’s repertoire is reproduced at the rear. Fanciful French rhymes describing each effect accompany each image. – Binding a bit stained – otherwise in very good condition.
EUR 7.500,-