R. B. Robbins Collection

The R. B. Robbins Collection of stage magic and conjuring was purchased by the State Library New South Wales from the estate of stage magician R. B. Robbins. Mr Robbins performed under the stage name of Robert Merlini.

The collection contains some 900 books, trade catalogues, pamphlets and serials, including rare material from the nineteenth century through to 1962 dating from 1799 to 1962, much of which was originally the property of the Great Levante.

A slim volume, "Magic and pretended miracles and remarkable natural phenomena", published in 1799 is the oldest item in the collection. The collection also includes news cuttings, notes on magic tricks, performance programs and signed photographs of many of the world's greatest magicians.

References

• http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about/collections/rare_books/special.html