A number of the books on magic were not written actually by those who claim them. While those books were accredited on the title-pages to magicians, they were by professional writers. In such cases, even though the language of the book is not the magician's, the methods of performance that are given are his. And, further, to a great extent, his personality gets into the book, for the writer records the performance as described or presented for him.

The 2,500 known books on magic are all of interest to the student. In each, from the pamphlet sold at circuses to the thick book with a padlock, he will find something of value. The casual reader may think the books amusing and strange - but the art of magic is strange and productive of wonder, and its purpose is to amuse.

This exhibition is but a cross-section, for not all the books could be shown. The attempt has been made to show representative books of a class and to pick the classes that would be of most interest to the public. You will see a group of "Books for Magicians Only." These books may be purchased by recognized magicians alone, with an oath not to disclose the contents nor let the books fall into outside hands.

Another group, the "Throw-out Books," are interesting, for they, in many instances, are the only writings of the magicians of yesterday. A "throw-out" book is a book sold or given away at the performance. For the circus and side-show performer it is a source of considerable income, and for the stage magician a medium of publicity that will be kept. In many instances the wrappers bore likenesses of the magician-authors.

It is rather difficult to distinguish between some of the small pamphlets and the throw-out books. And, of course, the originator of the practice of selling books at the show undoubtedly used the cheaper pamphlets. Almost all of our color-plate books were cheap pamphlets "embellished with a plate" to attract purchasers. The old ones give interesting ideas of the costumes and stage sets of the times.

In another section we have programs of several of the better known writers on magic. In the instance of Prof. Hoffman we find the reverse of the usual condition, for his fame rests upon his writings rather than his skill as a public performer. This group of "Authors of Magic Books as Performers" shows how greatly the performances vary and how different the men must be.

There have been a surprising number of magazines published for the magician - over eighty. The first, called the "Conjurer's Magazine," started in 1792, and lasted through two and a half volumes. This was not devoted entirely to magic. It was not until after the magicians began to write professional books that there were many magazines. A few died after one issue. But many have been more hardy, and one has been published regularly for over twenty-five years. It is called "The Sphinx." The various magical organizations have published papers, and many of the supply houses for magical equipment have had house journals.

One group is particularly interesting, for it shows how closely related is the magic of the countries of the world. A single trick, for example, is traced through many countries. These books were all printed about 1800 in different languages and published even on different continents. It also shows here how one trick may be followed through the centuries.

On the walls are pictures of the old, and the not so old, and the new stage sets. There are pictures of the magicians of yesterday and magicians of the day before. There are also play-bills and posters giving the time and place of performance and names of the wonders promised.

I wonder if the modern Mail Order Course shown in the case describes "La Lorgnette De Mephistopheles," or explains the method of performance for "Tocsin of the Invisibles, and Oracle of Psammetichus."

NEWS OF THE MΟΝΤΗ

GIFTS

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URING the month of January, 1928, there were received as gifts 3,677 volumes, 8,330 pamphlets, 35 maps, and 19 prints. Some interesting items were the following:

From Mr. William Andrews Clark, Jr., Los Angeles, came two privately printed publications, as follows: "Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning with some Observations and a Bibliographical Note by William Andrews Clark, Jr., The Frontispiece by William Wilke done in Drypoint after a Bas-Relief by Helen Hall Culver," printed for Mr. Clark by John Henry Nash, 1927 (No. 151 of 250 copies); and "Sonnets, by E. B. B." Reading [not for publication] 1847 (printed in facsimile for Mr. Clark by John Henry Nash in 1927, No. 151 of 250 copies).

Mr. Gabriel Wells gave the Library a photostat copy of "The Orders and Rules of the Charity-School for Boys, in the Parish of Wolverhampton," (having Button Gwinnett signatures on folios 205, 206, 207) 1716–1773.

From Miss Catherine B. Freeman, Gales Ferry, Conn., came an autographed and framed photograph of Franz Liszt, containing insert of a lock of the composer's hair. A plate on the frame is inscribed, "In Memory of Ellen M. Coe Rylance, Librarian New York Free Circulating Library 18811896."

From the Pace Press, Inc., came a copy of "Process Printing; Sample Sheets taken from Various Creations in Process Colors produced by the Craftsmen of the Pace Press, Inc." From Mr. Lawrence Visscher Boyd, Philadelphia, came a copy of his work, "Successful Homes," Philadelphia, [c. 1926]. Mr. Henry deBevoise Schenck, Ridgefield, Conn., gave a copy, bound in pigskin, of the work, "The History of Ridgefield, Conn., by George L. Rockwell," Ridgefield, Conn., 1927.

From the Abel Publishing Company, Cleveland, came a copy of "Who's Who in Professional Portraiture, compiled and published by the Abel Publishing Company of Cleveland, for the American Institute of Photography," c. 1927. From the Bence Tourist Company, Inc., came a copy of "El Libro del Centenario del Uruguay 1825-1925; Condiciones y riquezas naturales Historia, Demografia, Finanzas y Economia...," Montevideo, 1925. From the Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., came 4 pamphlets by George Eastman, on calendar reform. From the Engineering and Allied Employers' National Federation, Westminster, England, came a copy of "Wage Movements, 1897-1925," Jan. 1, 1926. From the Lewis Historical Publishing Company came the three volumes of "The Bronx and its People, a History 1609-1927, edited by J. L. Wells, L. F. Haffen, J. A. Briggs," New York, 1927; and the six volumes of "History of New York State 15231927, Editor-in-Chief Dr. James Sullivan," New York [c. 1927].

Mr. Otto Raubenheimer, Brooklyn, gave the Library reprints of two of his articles that appeared in "The Druggists Circular for October and November, 1927" - "Historical sketches of Old Drug Stores in This Country" and "Druggists and their Stores in New York over a Century Ago." From Mr. Wilfred B. Talman, Spring Valley, New York, came a copy of the work compiled by him and Louis L. Blauvelt, "Burials in an Old Grave Yard, opposite the Fair Grounds at Orangeburg, Rockland County, N. Y. Tabulated May 29th, 1927."

From the Ullstein-Verlag, Berlin, came a copy of "50 Jahre Ullstein 1877-1927," Berlin, December, 1927. From Mr. Barrett R. Wellington, Troy, N. Y., came a photographic copy of the Last Will and Testament of William Shakespeare printed from original negatives in the possession of Bert Boice.

Some privately printed works received as gifts were the following: From Mr. James A. Anderson, a copy of "An Old Tale for the New Year, or Mike Fink, The Bargeman of the Western Waters; An Account of Certain of his Exploits... brought to the attention of an inquisitive and divertissable world by the care, skill and expense of James A. Anderson Printer...," New York, 1928. From Dr. LeRoy Crummer, Omaha, Nebraska, a copy (No. 56 of 100 printed) of "A Catalogue. Manuscripts and Medical Books Printed before 1640 in the Library of LeRoy Crummer," Omaha, 1927. From Mr. Charles H. McCarty, a copy (No. 302 of an edition limited to 350) of "Addresses of the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Edward W. McCarty," 1927. From Mr. Edward Prime-Stevenson, Lausanne, Switzerland, a copy (No. 96 of 133 printed) of his work "Long-Haired Iopas: Old Chapters from twenty-five years of Music Criticism," Florence, 1927. From Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach, a copy (one of 150 privately printed) of the reprint (December, 1927) of his article, "The Earliest Christmas Books," which appeared in the Ladies Home Journal.

The following additions to the Library's print collection were received by gift during the month: From the Italy America Society, an original drawing by Adolfo Wildt ("La Critica e l'Artista"). From Mr. A. Allen Lewis, one of his etchings (Christmas card). From Mr. Bertrand Zadig, 16 of his woodcuts, "being hand rubbed proofs printed entirely without press."

Collections were received from the following: From Mr. I. N. Phelps Stokes, a collection of engravings of old New York, architectural magazines, catalogues, etc. (1,413 engravings, 101 volumes, 79 pamphlets, 432 periodicals). From the New Republic, 171 volumes, and 22 pamphlets. From Mr. Robert Carle, South Salem, N. Y., 84 volumes. From Mr. A. Wendell Jackson, 845 volumes, 289 pamphlets. From Mr. B. Mayer, 11 volumes, 27 pamphlets, 525 periodicals. From Mrs. Sarah Schreiber, 30 volumes, 6 pamphlets. From Mr. A. Warman, 15 volumes.

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ADDITIONS AND USE OF THE LIBRARY IN JANUARY, 1928 URING the month of January, 1928, there were received at the Library 21,699 volumes and 9,543 pamphlets. (These include the additions to both Reference and Circulation Departments.) The number of volumes issued for home use was 971,112. Readers and visitors at the Central Building numbered about 325,500.