1850's France Voisin Magic Apparatus Devil Head Token.

Here is a very nice old French token made of brass, I believe, in quite decent condition overall, measuring app. 7/8" across, with a plain edge. This neat magic-related token celebrates a world's fair award presented to the device manufacturer, and it shows only light wear really. The obverse is rather softly struck at the top, and there is a little discoloration not overly distracting. Some tiny imperfections are just mentioned for complete accuracy, with the reverse noticably darker, but I have not cleaned this item in any manner.

The obverse pictures a smiling horned devil facing the viewer, with "Physique Amusante" around the top, "Medaille 1855" at the bottom.
The center of the reverse reads "Voisin - Mecanicien Fabnt", inside of a thin, bowed wreath, with "81 Rue Vieille-Du Temple 81" around the top and "Paris" at the bottom.

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Andre Voisin was an engineer in mechanics ; he was also a conjuror and mainly a supplier of magic devices to other magicians : He had supplied a table to Robert Houdin, he was the main supplier of Benita Anguinet, conjuror of « Pre Catelan » theater in Paris, and of « Isola brothers », famous french conjurors in Paris « Theatre des capucines »

Installed in Paris in 1834, he opened a store at n° 81 Rue Vieille du Temple ; he then extended his store to n° 83 Rue Vieille du Temple, where he opened a showroom for his productions. In 1888, he shared the administration of Robert Houdin theater with Houdin’s widow ; the rights for conjuror’s show in this theater and all the associated magic devices were then sold to Georges Melies, famous french conjuror and fantastic films maker.

Among his most famous productions : « Arlequin whistling and smoking », « Clown on trapeze », etc…