Not currently on display at the V&A

Professor Anderson in the 'World of Magic'

Poster
mid 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Scottish conjuror 'Professor' John Henry Anderson, known as the Great Wizard of the North, was famous for his stage performances and for his books on conjuring and 'parlour magic'. He is credited with originating the trick of producing a rabbit from a top hat, and he also conjured live geese from a magic book, a trick which was said to be a favourite of Queen Victoria's. The magic portfolio, plus goose, is shown in the illustration on this poster. Anderson use his knowledge of conjuring to expose fraudulent spiritualists and produced pamphlets which gave rational explanations for such alleged phenomena as spirit-rapping and table turning, through which spiritualists claimed to communicate with the dead. The poster shows a group of imps hammering at a table which bears the legend 'TABLE RAPPERS BEWARE'. It also announces that the Professor will be assisted by Miss Anderson. In his later years Anderson's daughters appeared onstage with their father, and they went on to become magicians themselves.



Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleProfessor Anderson in the 'World of Magic' (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Lithograph
Brief description
Tour poster advertising The World of Magic, the show presented by John Henry Anderson (1814-1874) The Wizard of the North, and his daughter. Lithographed and printed by C.J. Culliford, ca.1860
Physical description
Poster advertising the conjuror John Henry Anderson, headed 'PROFESSOR ANDERSON IN THE "WORLD OF MAGIC", AS PERFORMED BY HIM IN EVERY PART OF THE GLOBE.' lllustrated with a black and white lithograph showing a caricature of Anderson, a moustached man in evening dress, holding a magic wand in his right hand. Behind him is a number of images of small imps with various items of conjuring paraphernalia, some identified by labels: on left, a magic cauldron, a magic portfolio and an enchanted hat; at upper right, a spiritual bell, a watch, and a table, labelled 'TABLE RAPPERS BEWARE', which is being hit by three imps holding hammers; at lower right an imp leaps out of a glass goblet, while another a rifle, and a third,wearing spectacles, holds up an envelope labelled 'SECOND SIGHT', while a blindfolded lady in a crinoline listens to an angelic figure behind her. Beneath the image are the words 'ASSISTED BY MISS ANDERSON, THE SECOND SIGHTED SYBIL, AND RETRO REMINISCENT ORTHOGRAPHIST'. Mounted.
Dimensions
  • Poster height: 57.6cm
  • Poster width: 40.5cm
  • Backing paper height: 59cm
  • Backing paper width: 43cm
  • Mount height: 69.3cm
  • Mount width: 48.6cm
Credit line
Gabrielle Enthoven Collection
Summary
The Scottish conjuror 'Professor' John Henry Anderson, known as the Great Wizard of the North, was famous for his stage performances and for his books on conjuring and 'parlour magic'. He is credited with originating the trick of producing a rabbit from a top hat, and he also conjured live geese from a magic book, a trick which was said to be a favourite of Queen Victoria's. The magic portfolio, plus goose, is shown in the illustration on this poster. Anderson use his knowledge of conjuring to expose fraudulent spiritualists and produced pamphlets which gave rational explanations for such alleged phenomena as spirit-rapping and table turning, through which spiritualists claimed to communicate with the dead. The poster shows a group of imps hammering at a table which bears the legend 'TABLE RAPPERS BEWARE'. It also announces that the Professor will be assisted by Miss Anderson. In his later years Anderson's daughters appeared onstage with their father, and they went on to become magicians themselves.

Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
S.162-1987

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Record createdDecember 16, 2015
Record URL
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