Search Results: Magic from Alcuin Books, ABAA-ILAB

Eastford, Connecticut, U.S.A.: Martino Pub, 1998. Octavo. 96p. index. Nicely reprinted by Marinto with 323 major items and 18 plates of the rarities.

1955. Hard Cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Entire year is bound in one volume.

1945. Hard Cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Entire year is bound in one volume. Name in ink and stamp saying withdrawn from circulation.

Fareham, Hants, England: Fredlo Development, 1949. Original Paper Wrps. A Good Copy/No Dust Jacket as Issued. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. 8p. Fred Lowe had developed a technique for displaying cards allowing him to intrigue and deceive the keen observer. Here is the scarce little booklet showing his way. Even the Brown University Special Collection on Magic lacks this item.

London: Magic Circle, 1940. A Good Copy. 51p. original blue cloth with pastedown title on front cover, wear on spine. Lacks from endpaper. Text is clean and complete. One of the great libraries for those who wished to study the magical arts both in terms of technique and presentation. here is a list of all the items then present including items from other countries. This catalogue might be the goal for the collector but it is unlikely more than half will be seen in our own era.

New York: Stuart Robson Conjurer's Shop, 1959. Original Paper Wrps. Near Fine/No Dust Jacket as Issued. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. 55p. A scarce item from late 1950's listing all the magic items available at Stuart Robson's Conjurer's Shop in New York. Often he would have items that no other shop was able to obtain. Consequently, the tricks, apparatus, etc are often not found in the catalogues of his contemporaries. A nice item to capture the art of magic in post-World War II era.

London: George Jounson, 1921. 12mo. 32pp. illustrated. The Magic Wand "Shilling Series" #1. This tile embodies practical effects. Additional tricks, by other well known Magical writers, appear in part ::. The items formerly appeared in the Magic Wand but many of the numbers of this magazine in which the effects were first published, are now, of course, out of print.. Bound in gray paper wraps lettered and decorated in black, gift inscription (possibly from publisher). some toning, a very good copy.

Np: Charles C. Eastman, 1933. 40pp.The author's first book and he presents forty items which the author had used himself and found to be practical. Other items have never appeared in print before. Bound in blue paper wraps lettered and decorated in black, some toning to edges , stamped in purple on the title page the address of L. Davenport and Co., London.

London: Will Goldston. Ltd, 1935. Hard Cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Vol # 1. Summer 1934 - Spring 1935. Some foxing to outer page edges. Light wear to all edges of binding. Prior owners name in ink and library stamp (Magic Circle Library) on loose end paper. On front pastedown some glue residue from removal of library pocket and paper missing.

San Leandro: The Conjuring Historical Society, 1981. Octavo. 160 pages. Signed by Clay H. Shevlin who notes only 300 copies were printed of the first edition. What makes this so useful is the title page of the most important books on the subject are produced with notes on why each volume is important. This would be foundational for establishing a strong library on conjuring within the magic genre. A fine copy bound in green cloth lettered in gilt, spine lettering gilt, green marbled endpapers.

Np: Kovari Magic Productions Ltd, 1980. Octavo. Second edition. Inscribed by the author. 60pp., pages 61-64 for personal notes. Illustrated. This booklet dives details and illustrations on how to do simple magic tricks. A very good copy bound in orange pictorial wraps lettered and illustrated in black.

Chicago: Donohoe, Henneberry & Co, 1891. First Edition. Octavo. 274 pages, index, illustrations and portraits. A vivid picture of some of the biggest stars of late nineteenth-century magic and the routines they presented. H. J. Burlingame devotes ample space to describing the work of American performers, granting a whole chapter to Alexander Herrmann and Harry Kellar, but their European predecessors do not go neglected, as the author's stories about such luminaries as Comte, Anderson and Robert-Houdin attest. Whether he's discussing the Bambergs or William Robinson prior to his Ching Ling Soo days, whether he's explaining stage hypnosis or two-person codes, Burlingame frequently quotes magicians directly and cites numerous contemporary newspaper reports, bringing a fascinating period in magic history to life. A very good copy bound in red cloth lettered and decorated in black, spine lettering gilt, decorative endpapers.

Bideford, England; Nd(ca.1970): Supreme Magic Company. Octavo. 139p. portraits,illustrations. Marvelous inscription: "To David, with best regards, Magically, Pavel, Orange, July 2000. see page 3" [page 3 shows Pavel 31 years earlier] Edited and with preface by Peter Warlock, illustrated by Josef Manas and the author. Bound in blue cloth, lettered in gilt, spine lettering gilt. A very good copy in very good dust jacket with some toning and a few tiny chips.

Minneapolis: C.W. Jones, 1941. Quarto. 135p. Third Impression. Wear along edges. A wonderful inscription: " to Leon [Leon M. Leon] It took 47 years to catch up with you and congratulate you on your place in magic." signed, Irving Desfor, Sept. 8, 1988. The book itself was in the personal library of Leon M. Leon founder of the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Laid in is 2als letter from Irving Desfor (the famous photographer of the greatest magicians) with both admiration and humor. It starts "Dear "Portable Hole" Leon: It was a pleasure meeting you." He mentions a photograph, a Thursday Lunch group among "magical friendships" but begs off because he is in Delray Beach, Florida...by the way, you have a marvelous book collection and I was proud to autograph the Al Baker "Ways and Means" which I illustrated with my photos. If you come across any Magician lookinf for my book "Great Magicians in Great Moments" I'd be glad to give them a break on my author's books and autograph it. With best… Read More

Oakland, Ca. (1991): Jeff Busy Magic. First Edition. Octavo. First printing. Limited to 1800 copies bound in cloth (200 in leather). The present copy is inscribed by Barton Whaley. xiii, 434 pages, bibliographic references pages 420-428, index. Barton Whaley whose work for the Department of Defense, included in the National Security Foreign Denial and Deception Committee. Besides his work for the government, he was a magician member of the Magic Castle and the International Brotherhood of Magicians (The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Magic). He held a seminar in 2004 on magic and the military at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey. His research for over forty years was to determine the identity of S.W. Erdnase. One of the great mysteries in the history of magic as well as Barton Whaley's examination of the gaps and plusses of key books on magic. A very good copy bound in beige cloth lettered and decorated in black, spine lettering black.

Santa Ana, CA: T.A. Sawyer, 1991. Printed Wrapper. Near Fine. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. 70p. Although Trevor H. Hall's 1957 A Bibliography of Books on Conjuring in English from 1580 to 1850 is a primary focus of this work, it is the author's intention to present definitive insights into both Trevor Hall and Stanley Collins. This is a remarkable work distinguished by the sources he has discovered including facsimiles at the end of the book. The relationship of Collins and Hall in the bibliography as well as subsequent relationship issues is a fascinating insight into those who both knew the art and books of conjuring.

London: C. Arthur Pearson, 1924. Paper Boards. Very Good/No Dust Jacket as Issued. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. 123p. Bright cover with photo inset of Ivor Smith amid cards and tricks. Bound in stiff yellow paper boards with advertisements on back cover. This copy has survived quite well usually copies have lost spine this one is in very good condition and still readable.

nd/no/np. [London, E. Bagshawe & Co., 1927]. Octavo. Part 5: Miscellaneous Magic. pages [167]-200, illustrated and with black and white photographs. Staple bound in beige wraps lettered and decorated in brown, some finger soiling. This is a continuation of magic tricks (part 5). A very good copy with some finger soiling to wrappers.

Tulsa, OKla: Montandon Magic, 1949. Original Wraps. A Good Copy/No Dust Jacket as Issued. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. 34p. 3 copies in OCLC. Includes the tricks that he developed with extensive illustrations. Some might be offended by the charicature of the "mystified" black waiter on the cover while the conjurer deceived the lady.

Lansing, MI: Privately Printed, 1976. Spiral Binding. Near Fine/No Dust Jacket as Issued. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. 60p. One of the most important guides to the conjuring arts. Printed in a small run, OCLC only shows copies in 4 university libraries. Generally, it forms the core of a serious magic bibliographic collection. It is now scarce. Inscribed to George Jenness "with thanks for a most pleasant afternoon from his friend, Jim Alfredson" May 18, 1978. (Most of Jim Alfredson's copies were available in the late 1970's in Magic magazines and magic stores, seldom are inscribed copies on the market).