Pinchbeck, William Frederick | One of the first books on conjuring to be published in the United States

Pinchbeck, William Frederick

Witchcraft: Or the Art of Fortune-Telling Unveiled. Boston: Printed for the Author, 1805

12mo (172 x 98 mm). Woodcut frontispiece, in-text woodcut figures; offsetting from frontis onto title, foxed. Half calf and presumably original paper-covered boards; overall rubbed with loss to paper and boards. 

First edition. "Reputed to be the third conjuring book to be published in the United States" (Toole Stott). 

William Frederick Pinchbeck was "a transplanted Englishman descended from the famous family of automata makers" (Jay 15). He is perhaps best known for his "Pig of Knowledge" exhibition (see previous lot).

Rare. 

REFERENCE:

 LP&FW, pp. 15-18; Toole Stott 563