This early book on science contains a chapter on automata and an appendix of magic-adjacent experiments. This was donated by Stanley Collins to The Magician's Club (Will Goldston's) and is clearly signed by him. It has stamps for the club library and a "presented by" stamp with Collins' signature. Collins was the club's librarian when it was founded and this was probably presented in the early years of the club. An interesting piece of British magic history.
 
Condition: Poor, the plate of the chess playing automata is missing and other plates are likely missing, has has spine replaced with paper, worn, marked and creased throughout with inscriptions. 
 
Binding: Hardback
Year:  1849
Publisher: T. Noble
Pages: 568
Dimensions (to nearest cm): 18 X 11cm