—— The Same. Nouvelle édition augmentée par l’auteur de six nouvelles grav. Paris, 1785. 8vo.
—— The Same. Troisième édition augmentée de quelque nouvelles expériences physiques et de gravures. Paris, 1791. 8vo.
This work by the famous Pinetti, king of conjurers of the eighteenth century, is a little handbook of very simple experiments in natural magic, evidently designed to be sold in the theatre. It contains no sleight-of-hand experiments, or anything of value to a professional. Pinetti carefully preserved the secrets of his tricks, and died without making any revelations. Decremps, however, has sufficiently acquainted us with them in his Magie blanche dévoilée. An edition in English of Pinetti’s book was published in London. On the title-page the conjurer expresses himself as follows: “Physical amusements and diverting experiments composed and performed in different capitals of Europe, and in London. By Signor Giuseppe Pinetti, de Wilidalle, Knight of the German Order of Merit of St. Philip, professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, pensioned by the court of Prussia, patronized by all the royal family of France, aggregate of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Belles-lettres of Bordeaux, etc. London, 1784.” 65 pp.
The most interesting thing about this insignificant booklet is a steel-plate frontispiece containing a portrait of the great magician. Two winged cherubs are depicted, placing the bust of Pinetti in the temple of arts. The motto reads: “Des genies placent le buste de M. le Professeur Pinetti dans le temple des arts, au milieu des instruments de physique et de mathématiques.”
Ponsin, J. N. Nouvelle magie blanche dévoilée, physique occulte, et cours complet de prestidigitation, contenant tous les tours nouveaux qui ont été exécutés jusqu’à ce jour sur les théâtres ou ailleurs, et qui n’ont pas encore été publiés, et un grand nombre de tours d’un effet surprenant, d’une exécution facile, et tout à fait inconnus du public et des professeurs. Paris, 1853. 8vo. 312 pp.
Sleight of hand with cards, coins, cups and balls.
Prestidigitation moderne. Figures. Paris, —.
Scientific recreations, tricks with cards, etc. Spiritism exposed.
Raynally. Les propos d’un escamoteur. Paris, 1894.