Nelson Enterprises Catalog No. 17. Nelson Enterprises, 1936.

An illustrated sales catalog issued by Nelson Enterprises of Columbus, Ohio, featuring effects and supplies for mind reading, astrology, crystal gazing, and related branches of mental magic. In addition to advertising the firm's products, the catalog offers a period snapshot of one of the leading American publishers and manufacturers of mental magic during the 1930s. Original blue pictorial wrappers featuring an Art Deco cover design. Complete as issued. Light handling wear and toning consistent with age and use.

Expert Billiard Ball Manipulation. Burling Hull, 1928.

Fifth Printing, Deluxe Edition. First published in 1910, Expert Billiard Ball Manipulation became one of the standard English-language works on billiard ball manipulation and remained an influential reference for generations of performers. Illustrated throughout with nearly 200 photographic studies, the work covers palming, productions, vanishes, acquitments, multiplying billiard balls, color changes, stage presentation, and the use of specialized apparatus and gimmicks.

Original gilt pictorial wrappers. Includes Part One (Fifth Printing, Deluxe Edition) together with Part Two, which incorporates the complete text of Parts One and Two. Part One retains the original promotional wraparound band. Light handling wear and rubbing consistent with age and use. A well-preserved set of a classic work on manipulative magic.

Hopkins, Albert A. Magic: Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions. NY: Munn & Co., 1906.

Covers stage conjuring, scientific recreations, and trick photography. Illustrated throughout.

Green cloth stamped in black and red. Tall octavo. Hinge loose at center. Cloth shows scuffing and soiling consistent with age. Good condition.

Inscribed and Signed by Penn Jillette and Teller. Penn & Teller's How to Play with Your Food. Penn Jillette and Teller. New York: Villard Books, 1992.

A humorous collection of culinary pranks, visual gags, and unconventional experiments from Penn & Teller. Blending sleight of hand, science, illusion, and irreverent comedy, the book presents dozens of playful ways to transform ordinary meals into memorable entertainment. Illustrated throughout with photographs and drawings. This copy is inscribed on the title page, "Nice lunching with you. Especially since you paid," and signed by both Penn Jillette and Teller.

Illustrated softcover. Light handling wear consistent with age and use. A clean, well-preserved copy.

The World's Greatest Magic. Hyla M. Clark. Photographs by Paul Levin. New York: Tree Communications, Inc., 1976. First Printing.

A lavishly illustrated survey of modern conjuring featuring thirty-two of the twentieth century's foremost magicians. Combining biographical sketches, performance photography, and explanations of selected effects, the book offers an engaging look at many of the performers who helped shape magic during the 1970s.

Among the magicians represented are Doug Henning, Harry Blackstone, Jr., Kreskin, Harry Lorayne, Milbourne Christopher, Tony Slydini, Al Goshman, Mark Wilson, and numerous other leading performers from the era. Hundreds of color and black-and-white photographs by Paul Levin capture these artists both on stage and behind the scenes, making the volume as much a visual record of modern magic as an instructional work.

Bound in black cloth and retaining the original pictorial dust jacket. The jacket shows light shelf wear consistent with age, while the book remains clean, sound, and well preserved.

A handsome first printing documenting a remarkable generation of magicians, equally appealing to collectors of conjuring literature and those interested in the history of twentieth-century magic.

Confessions of a Ghost Hunter. Harry Price. New York: Causeway Books, 1974.

The classic memoir of Harry Price, one of the twentieth century's foremost investigators of alleged paranormal phenomena. Drawing upon decades of research into haunted houses, séances, spirit mediums, and unexplained occurrences, Price recounts many of the investigations that established his reputation as both a pioneering psychical researcher and one of the era's most influential—and controversial—figures. Originally published in 1936, this Causeway Books edition introduced Price's firsthand accounts to a new generation of readers.

Bound in black cloth and retaining the original illustrated dust jacket, featuring a striking portrait design. The dust jacket shows light rubbing and handling wear consistent with age, while the book itself remains clean and well preserved. A handsome copy.

Men Who Wouldn't Stay Dead. Ida Clyde Clarke. New York: Richard R. Smith, 1945.

A collection of twenty-eight accounts of ghosts, hauntings, apparitions, and other supernatural phenomena compiled by journalist and psychical researcher Ida Clyde Clarke. Drawing upon historical records and firsthand reports, Clarke presents a series of well-known cases that helped shape twentieth-century interest in the paranormal, spiritualism, and psychical research.

Bound in the publisher's blue cloth and retaining the original illustrated dust jacket, featuring striking Art Deco-style typography and cover artwork. The dust jacket shows a large chip to the lower front panel, together with edge wear and rubbing consistent with age, yet remains bright and visually appealing. The book itself is clean and sound, with light shelf wear.

An attractive 1945 edition of a classic work on the supernatural, retaining its original dust jacket and well suited to collectors of ghost literature, spiritualism, psychical research, and occult history.

List of Magic. Jack Hughes manufacturers of magic equipment. Orange wrappers, illustrated. Very good condition. Includes price list.

The Invisible Pass. Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue. First Edition, 1946.

The first book devoted entirely to the pass, one of the most important sleights in card magic. Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue provide a detailed study of the technique, covering its mechanics, timing, naturalness, variations, and practical applications. Illustrated throughout with photographs and line drawings, the work remains one of the definitive treatments of this classic move.

First edition, published in 1946. Hardcover bound in the original blue cloth with silver-stamped lettering and illustration on the front cover. Minor wear consistent with age and handling. Binding is sound. Internally clean. Good condition overall.

The Romance of Sorcery. Sax Rohmer. Causeway Books, 1973.

A hardcover reprint of Sax Rohmer's classic 1914 study of magic, witchcraft, and the occult. Best known as the creator of Dr. Fu Manchu, Rohmer explores the history and traditions of ceremonial magic, alchemy, divination, spiritualism, and legendary practitioners of the occult. Blending historical research with period accounts and folklore, the work has long been appreciated by collectors of magic and allied arts for its engaging survey of the mystical traditions that have influenced conjuring and illusion.

Retains the original illustrated dust jacket. Light shelf wear consistent with age, including minor rubbing to the jacket. A clean, well-preserved copy well suited to both collectors of magical literature and readers interested in the history of the occult.

Encyclopedia of Mentalism. Robert A. Nelson. Second Printing, 1945.

A comprehensive survey of twentieth-century mentalism by Robert A. Nelson, bringing together hundreds of methods, routines, principles, and performance ideas from leading practitioners of the era. Topics include telepathy, second sight, predictions, book tests, billet work, blindfolds, question-and-answer acts, publicity stunts, and stage demonstrations, making the volume one of the foundational references in the literature of mental magic.

Second printing, published in 1945. Hardcover bound in black cloth with gilt lettering, retaining the original illustrated dust jacket. Dust jacket exhibits moderate wear, including rubbing, small chips, short tears, and age toning, while remaining substantially complete. Light shelf wear to the binding. Binding is sound. Internally clean. Very good condition overall.

Trix & Chatter. Dorny. Copyright 1921.

A collection of magic patter, presentations, and performance material by Dorny. Copyright 1921. Dedicated to The Sphinx, described on the dedication page as “the best and most popular magical journal in the world.”

Bound in the original publisher’s blue cloth with black-stamped pictorial cover and spine. This copy bears the bookplate of magician and collector Vernon Cook.

The text block remains complete. The front cover and spine are loose from the text block, with separation at the hinges. Binding exhibits moderate shelf wear, including rubbing at the extremities and light soiling. Internally clean with age toning consistent with its age. Good condition overall.

Marvels of Mystery. John Booth. First Edition, 1941.

John Booth’s classic collection of professional routines drawn from his own performing repertoire. Introduced by Bess Houdini, the volume presents practical stage, parlor, and close-up magic together with Booth’s insights on presentation and construction, and remains one of the landmark works of mid-twentieth-century conjuring literature. This copy bears the bookplate of magician and collector Vernon Cook.

First edition. Bound in the original blue cloth with gilt lettering on the front cover and spine. Illustrated throughout.

Light wear consistent with age, including minor rubbing to the cloth and gentle toning to the page edges. Retaining the Vernon Cook bookplate. Very good condition overall.

Doing Magic for Youngsters. Bert Easley and Eric P. Wilson. First Edition, 1948.

A practical guide to entertaining children’s audiences by professional magician Bert Easley, expanded with Eric P. Wilson’s The Art of Conjuring to Children. Rather than simply teaching tricks, the book emphasizes audience management, show structure, presentation, and the unique considerations of performing for young spectators, making it one of the earliest substantial works devoted to children’s magic. Bound in the original illustrated dust jacket over cloth boards. 122 pages. Light age toning to the dust jacket with minor wear consistent with age. Very good condition overall.

Our Magic. Nevil Maskelyne and David Devant. Second Edition, 1946.

One of the landmark works on the theory and practice of conjuring, Our Magic by Nevil Maskelyne and David Devant explores the principles of magical performance beyond mere technique. First published in 1911, the work examines presentation, psychology, misdirection, and theatrical construction, making it one of the most influential texts ever written on the art of magic.

Bound in the publisher’s original red cloth and retaining the original pictorial Fleming Book Company dust jacket. 318 pages. Illustrated. Light toning and wear to the dust jacket. The book remains clean and well preserved. Very good condition overall.

Sleight of Hand. Edwin T. Sachs. Fourth Edition, 1946.

One of the enduring classics of conjuring literature, Sleight of Hand by Edwin T. Sachs has educated generations of magicians since its original publication in the nineteenth century. Covering sleight-of-hand technique, card magic, coin magic, stage illusions, apparatus, and performance theory, it remains one of the foundational texts in the study of conjuring.

Bound in the publisher’s original red cloth with gilt stamping and retaining the original pictorial dust jacket. Pictorial frontispiece, illustrated throughout, 400 pages. Some toning to the spine and page edges. Very good condition overall.

The Garden of the Strange. Caleb Strange. Alakazam Magic, 2007.

A collection of original mentalism and audience-centered performance pieces by Caleb Strange. Published by Alakazam Magic, The Garden of the Strange explores routines, presentations, and theatrical techniques intended to strengthen the impact of modern mentalism. In addition to complete effects, the work examines broader principles of performance, making it a valuable reference for performers and students of contemporary mentalism.

Bound in black cloth with metallic stamping on the front cover and spine and retaining its original pictorial dust jacket. 170 pages. Light wear to the dust jacket, else very good condition overall.

(HOUDINI, HARRY.) The Wizard Monthly. Vol. 1, No. 1. October 1916. Atlantic City.

Scarce first issue of this short-lived magic periodical. The cover features Harry Houdini preparing to enter the Chinese Water Torture Cell, described as “the greatest performance of his strenuous career,” and the issue includes an interview with Houdini on page 3.

Printed on fragile newspaper stock, a format that seldom survives. The publication lasted only five issues, making the inaugural number particularly difficult to obtain.

Original self-wrappers. Outer wrappers detached from the text block, as often encountered with early periodicals of this type. Light toning and wear consistent with age. Good condition overall.

The Magic of Slydini… And More. Karl Fulves. New York: Louis Tannen, 1976. Signed and inscribed to Sol Stone.

First edition in the scarce original issue bearing the title The Magic of Slydini… And More. Issued in two volumes—one containing the text and the other photographs—bound in matching black pebbled cloth stamped in gilt. Illustrated throughout.

This example is inscribed and signed by Slydini to legendary New York close-up magician Sol Stone, adding an appealing association between two highly respected figures in twentieth-century close-up magic.

Of particular collector interest, this is one of only 100 copies issued under the original title before a rights dispute with Supreme Magic Company prompted a change to The Best of Slydini… And More. As a result, copies bearing the original title were withdrawn and the book was subsequently reissued under the revised name. Very good condition. Two volumes: text and photographs.

A Magician Among the Spirits: The Original Manuscript. Harry Houdini (Erik Weisz, 1874–1926). Washington, D.C.: Kaufman & Greenberg, 1996.

Facsimile edition reproducing the original typescript of Houdini’s final work exposing fraudulent spirit mediums and spiritualist deception. Illustrated and bound in full black cloth with mounted cover portrait, housed in the original matching slipcase. One of 1,000 copies issued. Book in excellent condition; slipcase with minor wear. An important Houdini reference and desirable addition to collections of Houdiniana and magic history.

Memoirs of Robert-Houdin. London: Chapman & Hall, 1859. Copyright Edition. Vol. II.

Written by Robert-Houdin himself, the influential conjuror widely regarded as the father of modern magic. Original blue cloth binding with gilt spine lettering and decorative stamped boards. Retains an early magician/collector ownership label for Henry V. Griffin on the front pastedown. Wear to binding and corners consistent with age; pages remain clean and well preserved overall. A handsome nineteenth-century example of one of the foundational works in magic literature. Very good condition.

Stephen Minch. The Vernon Chronicles. Tahoma: L&L, 1987–1996. Four volumes.

Illustrated. Publisher’s cloth with pictorial dust jackets. A complete set of Minch’s landmark work documenting the teachings, routines, and thinking of Dai Vernon. From the personal library of the famed mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, bearing his ownership signature in ink. Near fine.

Heaney Magic Company Catalogue No. 25., Berlin, Wisconsin, ca. 1920s–30s.

Illustrated softcover trade catalogue issued by the Heaney Magic Company, featuring stage illusions, spirit effects, card tricks, crystal gazing apparatus, books, novelties, and related magical material. Pictorial wrappers. 224 pages. Nicely designed Art Deco-style cover illustration to front wrapper. Toning to covers and pages consistent with age; very good overall.

Magicana. Bill Woodfield. Numbers 1 & 2. May and June, 1946.

Early issues of Woodfield’s short-lived periodical for magicians, featuring practical effects and commentary drawn from working repertoire. Magicana would later continue as a regular feature within Genii, published as a “magazine within a magazine.”

No. 1 includes Steve Shepard’s “Your Card?”; No. 2 features Woodfield’s “Double Reverse,” illustrated. Original newsprint format. Even toning throughout with light edge wear; pages clean and supple. A well-preserved pair. Scarce early issues.

Houdini’s Fabulous Magic. Walter B. Gibson and Morris N. Young. Philadelphia: Chilton Book Co., 1961.

Illustrated volume examining the life, methods, and enduring mystique of Harry Houdini, written by two respected authorities on magic and its history. Includes performance material alongside historical commentary on Houdini’s techniques and legacy. 214 pages. Red cloth with bold black titling to spine. Light handling; clean and sound throughout. Very good condition.

Memoirs of Robert-Houdin. Robert-Houdin. Minneapolis: Carl W. Jones, Publisher of Magic, 1944. First edition.

Illustrated volume with pictorial frontispiece; 457 pages. Red cloth with black stamping to front cover and spine. Spine heavily toned; boards show light, even fading and rubbing with minor bumps at corners. Mild toning throughout with some staining to page edges; overall clean and sound. Good condition.

Labyrinth. Number Eight, Part 1 & Part 2. Stephen Hobbs; illustrated by Kelly Lyles. 1998.

Limited edition issue of Labyrinth Journal of Close-Up Magic, presenting material associated with Steve Mayhew, including routines, controls, and technical notes in close-up card magic.

Two parts: Part 1 (32 pages) and Part 2 (28 pages). Each limited to 100 copies; both parts individually numbered 47. Original stapled wrappers. Staples rusted; minor staining to wrapper of Part 2. Otherwise clean and well preserved. Very good condition. A scarce, small-run publication from the late 1990s.

Knots and Splices: With Rope Tying Tricks of Famous Magicians. A. C. Gilbert Company, New Haven, 1920.

Stapled booklet with illustrated wrappers; 66 pages. A practical blend of rope work fundamentals and conjuring applications, issued by the A. C. Gilbert Company, known for its educational toys and magic sets. Light wear and handling to covers, with minor creasing and edge wear; interior clean and well-preserved. Very good condition.

Houdini on Magic. Walter B. Gibson and Morris N. Young. Dover Publications, 1953.

Cloth-bound volume with spine stamping. Pictorial frontispiece; 280 pages. Spine toned, else clean and well-preserved. Very good condition.

Blackstone’s Modern Card Tricks and Secrets of Magic. Harry Blackstone. Garden City Publishing, 1941.

Illustrated volume, 301 pages. Brown cloth with black spine lettering. Spine ends chipped with minor fraying; light rubbing and scattered marks to boards, including an inked “K” to front. General toning throughout; one page with a small central tear. Good condition.