Spirit Mediums and Conjurers : George Sexton 1873 [ Ricky Jay ]
$825
In stock
Description
Scarce 1873 Spiritualist Lecture Spirit Mediums and Conjurers by George Sexton Exposing Medium Hoaxes Owned By Ricky Jay
Sexton, George. Dr. Sexton’s Orations No 3: Spirit Mediums and Conjurers An Oration Delivered In The Cavendish Rooms, London, On Sunday Evening June 15, 1873, To Which Is Appended Rules To Be Observed At the Spirit Circle. J. Burns. London. 1873.
A scarce lecture on fraudulent mediums and the stage magic methods used by contemporary conjurers like the Davenport Brothers delivered by committed spiritualist George Sexton explaining the Pepper’s ghost illusion and other tricks. Includes references to famous British stage magicians and occult debunkers like Nevil Maskelyne and Dr. Lynn (both apparently in attendance) as well as the controversial contemporary medium Daniel Dunglas Home. Also features a short set of rules to be observed in a spirit circle for a successful séance.
This copy was formerly owned by author, actor, and stage magician Ricky Jay and was also part of the libraries of Australian magicians Steve “Weirdo” Kechnie, owner of a magic shop in Sydney, and Margaret Yates of Melbourne whose papers are held at the State Library of Victoria.
10 copies found in OCLC as of March 2025.
28+4pp. Original sewn pamphlet in later paper wraps. Handwritten title and author in ink to front wrap. Some sunning and soiling. Weirdo Magic Library sticker front wrap. Bookplate of Margaret Yates front wrap interior. Pages foxed and toned. Soiling top margin pg 7. Margin tears with losses pg 19 (text unaffected). Binding glue damage pg 4 with some text lost and appended to back wrap. Fairly good.
If you liked this item you might also enjoy this copy of Meditations and Reflections by spiritualist Church of Two Worlds founder H Gordon Burroughs. You might also enjoy this copy of The Life to Come, an 1875 Unitarian sermon with Spiritualist leanings.
