Roterberg, August -- MT285.000
LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois
DATE: 1925
OBV: Goddess of Magic in center, Maja Goddess of Magic Maja A.R.
REV: Same
COMPOSITION: GS, R2, V3; LD, R8, V4; SH, R2, V3; (many varieties exist; different dies; coin struck, medal struck, and rotated reverses). 30.5-R
Information From:
Magicians' Tokens And Related Items
An Illustrated check-list with estimates of values and rarities.
by F. William Kuethe, Jr.
TAMS Journal, Volume 18, Number 5, October 1978, (Part Two)
RARE, AUTHENTIC, ORIGINAL, VINTAGE, CIRCA 1890'S "MAJA GODDESS OF MAGIC A.R." TOKEN/COIN MADE FAMOUS BY MAGICIAN AUGUST ROTERBERG (NOT A COMMON REPRODUCTION!)..... APPROXIMATELY 30mm IN SIZE, COPPER, AND IN GOOD CONDITION FOR IT'S AGE
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| Read It |
No |
| Location |
Magic Library (Home) |
| Condition |
Very Fine |
| Owner |
Bryan-Keith Taylor |
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August Roterberg
Born Hamberg, Germany Born 1867
Died 1928
Cause of death natural causes
Nationality German
Occupation magic shop owner
Known for sleight of Hand, card magic
History
August Roterberg (1867 - 1928) was born in Hamburg, Germany and emigrated to the United States around 1883 as a teenager. He started out selling magic by mail order, and then opened a magic store in Chicago. It was housed in the lobby of the "old" Palmer House Hotel.
Roterberg really started the modern age of magic publishing. His books were the first in English, written expressly for magicians. Roterberg's books were published by a magic dealer specifically for sale in magical depots, rather than for wide distribution to the general public. He ended up selling his mail order business in 1908 to Ralph W. Read and his shop to Arthur & Carl Felsman in 1916.
Roterberg is best known as a magic inventor and is credited with inventing the "Multiplying Billiard Balls" trick.
He eventually retired around 1917 and eventually moved to California, where lived until death.
Published works
The Modern Wizard (1895)
Latter Day Tricks (1896)
New Era Card Tricks (1897)
Card Tricks and How To Do Them (1902)
