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Books and Ephemera 

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Memoirs of Robert-Houdin, Volume II

  • Memoirs of Robert-Houdin, Volume II. London: Chapman and Hall, 1859.

    Volume two of the first English edition of this seminal conjuring autobiography. Bound in original dark blue publisher’s pebbled cloth, stamped in gilt and blind. Spine lightly toned with general shelf-wear. Pages clean and very good overall.

Busby Short Sheet 1984

  • Jeff Busby’s Short Sheet was a niche magic publication that ran briefly in the 1980s. It was known for its sharp, sometimes controversial commentary on the magic world, along with technical insights, product announcements, and strong opinions—especially related to ethics and originality in magic.

Joseph Dunninger Photo negative

  • Joseph Dunninger with spirit trumpet | Photo negative

    Joseph Dunninger (April 28, 1892 – March 9, 1975), known as "The Amazing Dunninger", was one of the most famous and proficient mentalists all time. He was one of the pioneer performers of magic on radio and television. A debunker of fraudulent mediums, Dunninger claimed to replicate through trickery all spiritualist phenomena.

Busby, Arcane Mailing Envelope

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Busby Enterprises Catalog

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Larry Jennings, Busby Publications

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Jeff Busby Arcane | Issues 4, 13, 14

  • Originally published in the early 1980s, Arcane is one of the most coveted and respected periodicals produced by magic historian, inventor, and publisher Jeff Busby. Designed for the discerning magician and collector, Arcane offers deep explorations into sleight-of-hand, rare techniques, and historically significant routines.

Busby Mail Order and Promo Material

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Busby Publications

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The Magic Art of This ‘N’ That

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Weerd Enough

  • This work contains six of Kenton's most unusual effects and methods. Previously unreleased except to a private few, these concepts will challenge you. Far from the "ordinary" this manuscript details:

    How to find a card by "channeling" a spectator. How to make a problem "vanish" for a spectator - they actually SEE this happen - while alone in the privacy of their own home.

    Powerful magic mixed with an appropriate visual metaphor. Perform a routine in which words and scent are the actual method. Make vanished coins or charms reappear inside a lit candle. Learn how the legendary crop circle diagrams are used for psychic or psychological "readings". All the needed artwork is included. This alone could have been sold for more than the cost of the entire manuscript.

    More (of course) including further effect and presentations, more extended and diverse applications, and new gut-level essays.

    It is little wonder that many have awaited Kenton's release of this "Weerd" material. It took the ending of Docc Hilford's "Weerd Weekend" to get Kenton to divulge this secret work to others. A very select few have been in the know - as they paid Kenton to create some of this work for their own performances! Now these often startling effects and strange but magical methods can be YOURS.

    This manuscript may be a tribute to unusual and "Weerd" magic, but do not let that confuse you. These remarkable methods are applicable to many diverse effects and routines. Even if you are not interested in "Weerd" magic, you are bound to find these ideas to be of unique, and inspiring value. Besides, some of it is just flat out FUN.

    If you do close-up, there are things in here you simply must have. If you do mentalism, be prepared for some amazing ideas that you will use, and that will challenge you too.

    If you do "readings", Kenton's "Crop Circle Readings" has been a secret gem for many years. Now complete with the artwork, you can make your own at a fraction of what it would cost you otherwise.

    As one person privy to this material put it, "Read this and be in awe". WE say, "You're sure to find some items of unique interest in this one". We'd hate to be immodest, after all.

    Near fine, as new.

Conjuring Books

  • A Contribution to Conjuring Bibliography English Language 1580 to 1850 (Inscribed and Signed)

    Edgar Heyl, 1963

    Baltimore: Edgar Heyl Conjuring Books, 1963. First edition. Number 17 of 300 copies. Inscribed by the author on the title page: For Dr. Edwin Dawes, with the sincere regards of Ed Heyl.

    Comb binding with card covers; 62 single-sided pages plus an errata page. Includes Edwin A. Dawes’ bookplate.

    Very good condition. Covers slightly soiled; comb binding broken in one place.

Basic Card Technique

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Owen Magic Supreme Catalog

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Owen Magic Supreme Catalog

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Owen Magic Supreme Catalog

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Ireland’s Year Book

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The Magic of Riedel

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Balloon Animals and How to Make Them

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The Magic of Niberco

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Magazine Magicana

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Ibidem Magazine

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Fred Culpitt Biography

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Bibliographie de la Prestidigitation

  • Bibliographie de la Prestidigitation | Tome 1, 1952

    From the libraries of Stanley Collins and Edwin A. Dawes. Bookplates and pictorial wrappers, illustrated, 188 pages. Chips to spine and some wear to cover, otherwise in good condition.

The Catalogue of Magic

  • The Catalogue of Magic | Jeffrey Feinman, 1978

    From the library of Edwin A. Dawes. Includes bookplate.

    Everything about magic— from a $1 pack of trick cards to stage illusions costing thousands of dollars. Descriptions and photographs, along with prices and ordering information.

Doves Easy

  • Doves Easy by James Snyder, 1962

    Seventeen original dove tricks. Sold by Owen Magic Supreme.

Houdeen Poster

  • Houdeen—stage name of Svenne Herman DeHolt (1890–1968)—enjoyed a remarkable career that spanned more than 50 years, enchanting audiences in schools, auditoriums, and community halls across the country. His passion for magic lived on through his son, Jack, who followed in his footsteps and toured with the popular Ken Griffin show. DeHolt’s enduring contributions to the art of magic were honored in New Tops and other leading magic journals, where his obituary paid tribute to a life devoted to wonder and illusion.

Houdeen Poster

  • Houdeen—stage name of Svenne Herman DeHolt (1890–1968)—enjoyed a remarkable career that spanned more than 50 years, enchanting audiences in schools, auditoriums, and community halls across the country. His passion for magic lived on through his son, Jack, who followed in his footsteps and toured with the popular Ken Griffin show. DeHolt’s enduring contributions to the art of magic were honored in New Tops and other leading magic journals, where his obituary paid tribute to a life devoted to wonder and illusion.

Houdeen Poster

  • Houdeen—stage name of Svenne Herman DeHolt (1890–1968)—enjoyed a remarkable career that spanned more than 50 years, enchanting audiences in schools, auditoriums, and community halls across the country. His passion for magic lived on through his son, Jack, who followed in his footsteps and toured with the popular Ken Griffin show. DeHolt’s enduring contributions to the art of magic were honored in New Tops and other leading magic journals, where his obituary paid tribute to a life devoted to wonder and illusion.

Ted Annemann Brochure

  • Is Thought Reading a Possibility?

    Annemann, Ted (Theodore Squires, 1907 – 1942).  New York, ca. 1930s. Bi-fold brochure advertising the famous author and mind reader, his portrait on the front and a Manhattan address inside. Measures approx. 6 x 4”, folded, with original mailing cover. Second version of the flier advertises the act of Orville Meyer, a contemporary and friend of Annemann’s. From the collection of Max Maven (Philip T. Goldstein).

The Cold Deck

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Winder Sale of Old Conjuring Books

  • The Winder Sale of Old Conjuring Books and Personal Letter

    Number 219 of a limited edition of 250 signed and numbered copies. Light blue wrappers, 18 pages. This sale of Winder's conjuring books was a watershed event in the magic collecting community and changed the hobby significantly. Author Trevor Hall analyzes not only the sale prices achieved, but the relative rarity of the books themselves. A fascinating if dated look at this important auction and the collector who assembled this important library. Includes personal letter from Trevor Hall to Edwin A. Dawes.

Encyclopedia of Dove Magic

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Edwin A. Dawes Book Plate

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Thayer Catalog Bulletin

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Miracle Floating Light Effects

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Practical Hypnotism

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Das Wunderbuch der Zauberkunst

  • Cherchez La Femme | Petrie & Lewis, ca. 1935.

    Lacquered metal stand in red and silver accommodating three jumbo cards. The performer mixes the cards, which can be seen through holes cut in the stand, yet the spectators are unable to locate the queen.

Thurston
World’s Famous Magician Poster

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Ask Alexander Poster

The Vernon Chronicles

The Academy of Magical Arts Membership Brochure

Carter on the Camel

  • CARTER, CHARLES. CARTER THE GREAT. “CARTER ON THE CAMEL.”

    Cleveland: The Otis Lithograph Co., ca. 1930. Carter and a devil sit on the back of a camel, with the head of The Sphinx in the background. Demons and witches fill out the scene.

    Size: 40 ½ x 27”.

    Condition: Bright and vibrant. A. Linen backed.

Mini Magic Museum Token

Modern Magic by Professor Hoffman

Modern Magic

  • HOFFMANN, Professor (Angelo Lewis) (1839-1919). Modern Magic. London: George Routledge and Sons, [1876]. Frontispiece with tissue guard, illustrated. Publisher’s pictorial green cloth stamped in black and gilt (sunning to spine). FIRST EDITION with Routledge monogram on the title page, conjurer’s hat in black, and cone in gold (in later editions, this was reversed). Scarce.

Tops Magazine of Magic-August 1953

Tops Magazine of Magic July 1955

Tops Magazine of Magic July 1955

The Supernatural

  • WEATHERLY, Lionel (1852 – 1940) and J. N. Maskelyne (1839 – 1917). The Supernatural? Bristol: J. W. Arrowsmith, [1894]. Publisher’s orange cloth lettered in gilt and black.

    Frontispiece spirit photograph. Illustrated. Dawes bookplate.

    8vo. Bumping and soiling to boards, end papers foxed, interior spine cracked. Overall Good or better.

“Senator” Crandall’s Pink Sheet

  • “Senator” Crandall’s Pink Sheet. Volume 1 No. 6, June 1959, 20 pages.

    Born on a farm in Iowa. Around 1954, Clarke Crandall was doing magic at George Banning's Magic Lounge in Cicero, one of the many bars featuring magic around Chicago.

    Then, he bought the "Studio of Magic" shop from Al Sharpe in 1957, and ran it for two years before closing.

    He became a host at the Magic Castle, introducing the acts and fending off people who were improperly attired. He was the original grumpy old man and his wit and sarcasm were accepted and expected by all. He would do a weekly X-rated show on Saturday nights at midnight.

    The Abbott's Get-Together presents the "Senator Crandall Award" for comedy excellence each year.

    Senator's Pink Sheet ran from April 1957 to June 1959.


Sympathetic Card Mystery and 1932 Thayer Mailing Envelope

  • Thayer Magic-Improved Sympathetic Card Trick-Rolland Hamblen with original as-found mailing envelope from 1932.

Bert Allerton’s The Close-up Magician

The Camerons Promotional Materials

  • The Camerons Ephemera. Two brochures, letterhead, and show promo card. Fine Condition. Inquire

Card Tricks and How to do Them

  • Card Tricks and How to Do Them. Frederick J. Drake & Co., 1902, Chicago. Very good condition. Inquire