Marco's Comments:
The most common book of Col. Stodare, the inventor of "The Sphinx" illusion and the first major magician at The Egyptian Hall, London. This book was published serially in a magazine, then as a book a year after Stodare's death.
This copy comes from the collection of Stanley Collins and has an advert cut out from the Illustrated London News of 9 July 1865 advertising Stodare's show and signed by Collins.
The spine has been replaced with a strip of cloth with the title writte on it. Worn at the estremities.