Nouvelles récréations physiques et mathématiques

First edition illustrated with 72 folding plates of which 68 have been finely hand-colored. One folding table. At the end of the first three volumes, 4 plates of prices for recreations found at Guyot's.
Contemporary full glazed lavallière calf binding. Smooth spine handsomely decorated. Red morocco title labels, green morocco volume labels. Triple-ruled frame. Upper joint of volume I rubbed, with a hole, split at foot. Lower joint of second volume narrowly split at foot. Headcap of volume IV worn, tailcap partially worn. The corner of one board exposed. Signs of rubbing. 3 holes to half-title of volume II, in volume I p241 at the end, trace of pale dampstaining to corner, otherwise fresh throughout on white paper. Despite some defects, a handsome copy in a quality binding.
A collection composed of scientific amusements designated under the term recreations. (Caillet, 4900, "Collection infinitely more complete than all those published since, including Robert Houdin's"). These recreations would later be called magic tricks, Guyot here provides the mathematical, physical, chemical and optical methods; for make no mistake, these recreations are today a manual of magic. The first volume deals with mathematics, magnets, mechanics and numbers. The second volume covers geometry, light, optics and electricity. The third volume contains "recreations" around magnets, sleight of hand and catoptrics. And the last, fourth volume consists of chapters on mechanics, on occult writing, magnets, water, fire and air... (with "tricks" involving the camera obscura).