A local thriftshop was having a book sale, all books are 10 cents. I picked up a very very old copy of "chemical magic" (1930) as well as a Mysterious Stranger by David Blaine. I have taken a number of university level chemistry courses and glancing through the "chemical magic" book, I have to say.... much of what is printed in there is dangerous. I am sort of glad I am the one who saw the book rather than a child who does not have basic knowledge on what they may or may not be doing. I also picked up a large box that I may make into a nice closeup "pad". The top is covered in leather with a nice wood bezel around it; and the box hinges open, it is 2 inches x 12 inches by 17 inches including the hinged lid.

Last summer I got a call from a friend of mine who had just been into a "Habitat for Humanity" thrift store about 30 minutes drive from my house. She claimed hat there was an actual Sawng a Lady in Half Illusion for sale. I was a bit suspicious and phoned the store to see if it was true - the salesperson confirmed it! I asked how much they wanted for it - a whopping $60 (this is in Canadian money folks!). Still suspicious, I asked they would put a hold on it and I would be right down. When I arrived, sure enough, there it was. However, having a little experience with illusions and how they are built, it didn't look quite right. A quick inspection confirmed that although it LOOKED like what they claimed it was ...to a layman, it was actually a prop built and used in a television commercial. It was basically two very well built and decorated boxes with all the hardware, made to look what someone thought a sawing illusion should look like. To actually have a prop like this built would cost several hundred dollars and they wanted $60 ....... But wait! Today was also half off day, so I got it for $30! Of course it will never see the stage as it must weigh over 250 pounds, but it makes a great storage box n my magic room! Below is a picture I took with my wife in one half and Halloween legs sticking out the other (she would have to be well over six feet tall to have her real legs stick ou - she's only 5 ft 3inches). We had fun with this one leading our friends to believe we picked up the real thing for $30!

I guess the photo was a tad too big - it does' show. Well, when I get the chance I'll post it!

Twice a year I go to my library's book sale. The last day of the sale you can fill a paper grocery bag full of books, DVDs, and CDs for $5. I've picked up a number of magic and juggling books there. The Amateur Magician's Handbook, Now You See It Now You Don't, The Complete Juggler, and some no-name "here's a bunch of tricks" books. None are valuable or particularly hard to find but still cool to pick up cheap.

I also got a copy of Scarne on Dice, not a magic book but something I'd been wanting to get for for a long time. And I picked up a copy of Joshua Jay's Magic the Complete Course at a yard sale. It was missing the DVD, of course.

Ben

Few weeks ago in an antique store in a pile of old playbills found one for the The Magic Show with Doug Henning sitting right on top of pile for $1

In my early years as a magician, some 35 years ago, I was with a magic friend and we visited a man who had lots of magic for sale, mostly from passed away magicians. After some time I notices a hardcover book with no name. I took it from the shelf and to my utter amazement it was the Dutch translation from The Memoirs of Robert-Houdind. Printed in 1860, just a few years after the French original came out. As many of you know this book came in two parts: One with the actual memoirs and the second with the tricks.
To this day I am trying to find the matching part two, now believing it was never printed in Dutch. But to me, that find, for five bucks, was and still is priceless. Up until now I have not come across anyone who has this book.

Several years ago I walked into a Salvation Army found in the toy section an original Rocky Raccoon still in the package.

Very interesting subject here. Some folks collect the chalk dolls and animal figures from the midway games. I don't collect them but they really bring back memories as a kid. I loved the side show it was a place of wonder everywhere you looked. It was here I watched this fellow with a little mouse that ran all over his body wow how amazing! Of course it was a little chalk mouse with a thread and pen attached. But the way he performed it made anyone one want that little critter! So when I see some chalk items in the thrift stores
I instantly think of the fellow with the chalk mouse. May run across one someday and I won't be able to resist.

Gerald, you will be surprised by what you will and can find! Get your money ready you will not be able to resist that chalk mouse!

Card decks from the "Rat Pack" era old Vegas Casinos that are no longer there like the Desert Inn, the Sands, etc and from the old airlines like TWA and Pan AM I can usually pick them up for a quarter to 50 cents. Some unused Bike decks for 25 to 50 cents. An old school mirror glass for 50 cents and various wooden boxes for a dollar each that I can gimmick.

I once picked up a set of Linking Rings, and a Professor's Night Mare

Stage sized die box. Twelve bucks.

I picked up Paul Harris “Close Up Fantasies-Book II” and Harry Anderson’s “Games you can’t Lose” books while antique hunting with my wife. Picked them up for $20.00.
Interesting reads.