St. Roman (Samuel Thiersfeld) | A rare broadside heralding the distinguished Jewish magician

St. Roman (Samuel Thiersfeld)

In the Bolshoi Theatre [translated from Russian]. [Moscow: 1875]

Broadside (615 x 488 mm). Numerous fonts, text in Russian, woodcut of Thiersfeld at center with two woodcut hands pointing toward him; backed with linen, old fold, minor browning, minor marginal soiling.

St. Roman, born Samuel Thiersfeld in Jaroslav (now in Poland) in 1828, started his professional life as a pastry chef, but in 1857, he traded this career for one of magic. A skilled violinist, his act consisted of music, magic, and impersonations. Thiersfeld was a pupil of Hofzinser's, and was performing the Card through Handkerchief effect by 1897.