{"product_id":"magic-metamorphosis","title":"Magic Metamorphosis","description":"\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ea fascinating work on conjuring history, a unique relic of baroque entertainment culture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ethe new standard work; 300 previously unknown illustrations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ea facsimile of a unique blow book from the seventeenth century\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThomas Stauss discovered a unique picture album (\u003cem\u003eDisegni Antichi Bizzarri\u003c\/em\u003e, produced in Italy at around 1650) in Paris at the end of the 1990s. \u003cem\u003eMagic Metamorphosis\u003c\/em\u003e – a new monograph on picture transformation books (‘blow books’) – consists of two large-format volumes in a slipcase: a high-quality facsimile reproduction of the 17\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e-century picture album, and a richly illustrated explanatory volume. \u003cem\u003eThe facsimile volume includes the notched ‘indexing’ necessary to demonstrate its original function as a blow book.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album’s drawings are fascinating—a bizarre mixture of the most diverse motifs: animals, flowers, soldiers, fire-breathing devils and dragons. The seemingly illogical sequence of the individual images also appears bizarre. What purpose should the volume serve?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blow book (also: picture transformation book, flick book, and 'magic colouring book' in its modern variations) is a classic centuries-old magic trick. As early as the 17th century, it was customary for the magician to get a spectator to blow on the book during the performance--a kind of magical gesture, and the origin of the term 'blow book'. Blow books were used in performances in all social circles: in royal houses, at fairs, in taverns and on the street.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA blow book contains repeated sequences of pictures that allow an optical illusion facilitating the performance of an amazing magic trick. Leafing through the book, the performer can manipulate it, showing the audience a desired picture motif to magical effect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFacsimile volume\u003c\/strong\u003e: 336pp, faithfully reproduced from the original complete with notched 'indexing', printed on heavy art paper in full colour throughout\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExplanatory volume\u003c\/strong\u003e: 248pp, printed on heavy art paper, profusely illustrated in colour throughout; the monograph is fully referenced and annotated, complete with an Index of proper names and Bibliography\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LIBRUM Publishers \u0026 Editors LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57259077239128,"sku":"9783906897967","price":285.2,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9783906897967_368a312e-9ef3-417b-9aab-23f4f3c87d03.jpg?v=1778804122","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/magic-metamorphosis","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}