ALBERTI, Giuseppe Francesco Antonio.
I Giuochi numerici fatti arcani palesati.
Venice, Giovanni Battista Locatelli, 1788. 8vo. With a woodcut vignette on the title page, 57 figures depicting conjuring tricks on 16 engraved full-page plates, and many printed tables and figures in the text. Modern half vellum. 156 pp.
€ 1,950
Scarce collection of mathematical puzzles, magic tricks, and illusions, including an illustrated section on sleight-of-hand conjuring. The work starts with a study of unusual arithmetic equations and puzzles, before discussing magic tricks and illusions, including card tricks, dice games, and even complex stage illusions involving specialised equipment. The author, Antonio Giuseppe Alberti (1712-1768) was a hydraulic architect and a road engineer, and is best known for the present work, which was the first on this subject to be published in Italy. It was first published in 1747 and remained in print until the early 19th century. The present copy is the third edition.
The back board is slightly scratched. The work is uncut, some of the leaves are lightly foxed. Otherwise in good condition. Diz. Biogr. degli Italiani I, p. 696-7; Honeyman Nr. 47; Poggendorff I, p. 23; Riccardi I, cols. 15-7; cf. Caillet I, 145 (other edition).
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