Does anyone know who was the first Magician to produce a rabbit from a hat?

Please don't let's get bogged down in talking about Mary Toft. I'm wondering when the rabbit-from-a-hat first appeared as a magic effect.

Thanks!

Rory

1836 The Humorous Magician Unmasked by Engstrom. About $8,000 to $10,000 a pop when they turn up.

Rory,

According to Whaley's Encyclopedic Dictionary of Magic, it was French magician Louis Comte in 1813. It did not become common place until the 1840's.

Regards, Mark Damon

That was an easy question, and Mark Damon really knows his way around Whaley's, but the one that has me puzzled is who the heck is "Mary Toft?"

I thought the question when first appeared as a effect. I took that as being a quasi bibliophile, in print. Then the answer would be 1836.

Maybe I should stick to the Houdini stuff that I'm better at.

Good Luck,
Kevin

Never mind informing me about Mary Toft. I did a Café search and discovered the hilarious connection on my own!

Thanks for the references, guys.

I'm looking into the connection (if any) between Toft and the magic effect. She is often cited in refernce to it. Perhaps she was referred to in the patter of the original performance?

R

I thought you were the one who didn't want to " get bogged down in talking about Mary Toft"? Hmmm

There was a newspaper story then gossip then parody.

;)

Sheep gives birth to human baby. Lambchop pleads no-contest. Film at 11.

Then there are the numerous "woman gives birth to Bigfoot's love child" stories. If true, he owes a LOT of back child support. As it is, he's a deadbeat dad!

Dude, I know Bigfoot and he's a really nice guy. He's totally gonna do right by her as soon as he gets a job! It's not easy, okay? Give a guy a break.

R

Since the carnival sideshows with the weird anomolies are gone, I suppose he could get a job demonstrating some sort of industrial strength hair cream remover!

I found the following reference in Milbourne Christopher's 'The Illustrated History of Magic' describing John Henry Anderson's 1840 performance at the New Strand Theatre in London. For those who don't know, John Henry Anderson was known as "The Great Wizard of the North".

"Rabbits appeared from a spectator's topper. The rabbit-from-hat feat was still new, it had first appeared in the programs of magician's in the late 1830's. (The originator of the feat is unknown; previously, birds were favored.)"

Anyone else have a reference on this effect's origin?

Milbourne Christopher's Illustrated History of Magic can only give a broad overview of anything that actually happened. It is chock full of errors and misrepresentations.