LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC

*** 1868  ***

DESCRIPTION:

LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC, addressed to Sir Walter Scott, Bart. 
by:BREWSTER, Sir David. 

Publisher: William Tegg, LONDON 1868.

Full leather with richly tooled spine in gild.

Marble endpapers. Marble edges of the pages. Minimal wear to the extremities of the covers. Tight binding. Clean. Condition: very Good
Hall [Conjuring Books] 55. Brewster's popular, but encyclopedic, Treatise on Optics (1831) had set out with clarity all the practical applications of mirrors and lenses. In 1815 he had invented the kaleidoscope, which remained a popular Victorian toy. 'Brewster also turned his knowledge of optical theory and of mechanics to moral use. In 1832 he published Letters on Natural Magic, as a reply to what he perceived as the credulous supernaturalism of Sir Walter Scott's Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft (1830). Brewster argued that apparently supernatural phenomena could be explained by recourse to optical illusion or imposture with the aid of mechanical devices, and gave detailed accounts of both methods'. [Robert A. Gilbert in Dictionary of 19th Century British Philosophers, I, p.144]. Of benefit to the modern reader are the scores of detailed descriptions, many with illustrative figures, of scientific and mechanical experiments, including optical illusions, the magician's mirror, magic lanterns, 'phantasmagoria', cylindrical mirrors, explanations of 'spectre ships', an invisible girl, ventriloquism, the kaleidophone, acoustic automata, Vaucanson's flute player, feats of strength, an automaton chess player, Mrs. Duncan's tambouring machine, Mr. Babbage's calculating machine, &c. 

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