This was a pioneering book on magic being one of the first which illustrated methods with photography. It features J. N. Maskelyne, Trewey,  T. Nelson Downs, Charles Bertram, Chas. O. Williams, Paul Valadon, Ellis Stanyon and many others. This is an essential part of any magic historian library. This is the scarce first edition published by Pearson.
 
Condition: Fair, a very well worn copy, wear, marks and fading to boards and spine including corners of boards where cloth has worn through and top and base of spine where there is some loss to cloth, front endpaper missing with binding loose on front hinge, marks, yellowing and creasing throughout with a few inscriptions. 
 
Binding: Hardback
Year:  1903 (1st)
Publisher: C. Arthur Pearson
Pages: 414
Dimensions (to nearest cm): 22 X 15cm