Treasures of the Library: the magic of blow books

Sim sala bim! In this episode of Treasures of the Library, Senior Librarian Dominique Dunstan conjures up three examples of blow books from the WG Alma conjuring collection.

The origins of these unusual books span from 18th century France to contemporary Germany, when they would have been used as magic tricks by street performers and travelling conjurers.

These charming objects come alive in the hands of a skilled magician, and have endured and evolved through the centuries.

About Treasures of the Library

This member exclusive video series, hosted by expert librarians, delves into the Library’s collection to highlight some of its most fascinating and precious items.

More to explore

Watch our previous episode of Treasures of the Library, which explores the first map of Melbourne's CBD.