The First Illustrated Book in the English Language Devoted Entirely to the Subject of Magic
This book includes detailed work on the "Cups and Balls," and the first version of the "Stack of Pence" (i.e., "Stack of Quarters").
It is probably the first English book written from the viewpoint of a performing magician. Any serious magician should read this book, not to learn a lot of new tricks, but to realize how much has been known for a long time. This book is part of our history.
This new reprint has excursus by Steve Burton and a new introduction by Stephen Minch.
Hardbound, black cover with gold imprint; measures approx. 8.5" x 6"
"The 1620s brought William Vincent to the Records when in 1619 he was granted a license 'to exercise the art of Legerdemaine in any Townes within the Relme of England and Ireland.' "He was described as 'alias Hocus Pocus, of London,' and was involved in cheating at the game of 'ticke tacke.' "References from 1634 until 1642 indicate that he was also a rope dancer and was actually paid to stay out of Gloucester in1636-7 at a time of plague, to prevent possible spread by contagion.
A later description indicated he was a sword swallower also, 'vomiting up daggers, like Hocus, to amaze the people.' "The epitaph to Vincent appeared in 1667 and no payments were recorded after 1642 in Coventry, but the term 'Hocus Pocus' continued to appear in Magic literature, especially in book titles." Dr. Butterworth concluded his lecture with the possibility (even probability) that Vincent was the author/compiler of Hocus Pocus Junior. (This quote is excerpted from the article, which appeared in The Magic Circular.)
