(MAGIC). LEAT, Harry. Leat's Leaflets.

A Near Complete Run in Fine Condition

(MAGIC). LEAT, Harry. Leat's Leaflets, Nos. 1-55 (lacking three issues: 2, 3, & 43). (London: Printed by H. Leat, ca. 1925 -September 1940.) One leaflet with [2] leaves; all others with [4] to [8] leaves. (215 x 142 mm.)  All in the original orange printed wrappers With many black & white illustrations, a couple with plates. Two covers with dust soiling along one edge, a dozen leaflets slightly bumped on one corner, a few other minor faults. Very well preserved and about fine as a group.

A near complete run of this diverting periodical containing the outspoken musings of British magic dealer and magician, Harry Leat (1874-1949).

Intended for private circulation among Leat's customers, these leaflets contain a mixture of tricks, advertisements, excerpts, cartoons, and diatribes, presenting a wonderfully piquant insider's view of the Magic scene in Britain between 1925-40. The author particularly relishes in calling out exposers of the magical arts, and includes Harry Houdini and the Magic Circle among his targets. Leat did not mince words and had no qualms about calling out those he perceived as bad actors; typical of his style are lines such as "Davy Burnaby is exposing tricks in the English paper known as 'Popular Science Siftings.' Space prevents me going into the matter fully in this issue, but I trust that all magicians who have the interests of Magic at heart will give him the 'Bird' whenever they get the opportunity."

Two further issues of Leat's Leaflets (nos. 56 & 57) were issued separately in 1970, long after Leat's death. The present set is in unusually nice condition. (C1135)