First published in 1876, The Practical Magician and Ventriloquist's Guide offers detailed instructions on how to create various illusions, from dancing eggs and doubling your pocket money to cooking pancakes in a hat over candles and, if needed, how to "cut off a person's nose without injuring him." The latter portion of the book, as the title suggests, gives readers tips on mastering the art of ventriloquism and provides several dialogues for routines. This edition fully reproduces the original, complete with illustrations and full-page ads in the back of the book for guides on fortune telling, fishing, and more.