Hi,
Anyone know if there are any plans to produce "Greater Magic" in PDF, ebook form.
Possible onto a CD like Slydini Encores?

God help us all

I've inquired about it with Chris from Lybrary.com a few months ago. It's something that's in the back burners due to some copyright issues that needs to be worked out. No future "release" date yet.

It would be excellent to have the Kaufman edition of Greater Magic in a searchable format!

(Then again, it would be excellent to have a copy of the hard to find Kaufman edition of Greater Magic in any format !)

Bosco

For the last 6 years I have been trying to get the rights to "Greater Magic", but so far no success. However, recently there has been some positive development. Still far away from anything concrete but at least some progress.

Best,
Chris....

Any news on a possible digital release?

Unlikely, at least from Lybrary.com.

I own the Kaufman edition of Greater Magic and I really DO hope that either hard copy or digitslly it gets reprinted (the original or the Kaufman edition). This book is virtually a self-contained magic library. It is a masterpiece and should be in the working library of every serious magician. Like the Tarbell course, MANY of the "new" effects can be traced directly back to Greater Magic.

Xiqual, I am not certain what you mean by your comment "God help us all." Are you saying that a digital Greater Magic is a bad thing? If so, why? Books are meant to be read - digitally or traditional print. It has been 18 years since the Kaufman edition and this is a legendary book. Why should it remain in limbo? The book, despite Hilliards sometimes rather florid prose [Jean Hugard actually finished the book and the difference in writing style is fascinating] is as relevant today as it was when Carl Waring Jones published it in 1938.

Chris, I know that you usually do not print hard copies, but, if by some miracle you can secure the rights to reprint this in hard copy, the book couldn't be in better hands.

Namaste,
Vlad

Vlad, I would certainly consider printing it. But I think by the time a reprint might happen the digital medium will be so dominant that a reprint will be hard to justify. But perhaps as POD it could be made available for those who want it printed. It is important enough to have it available in multiple formats.

At some point it will fall into public domain. It has still a way to go, but unless I am struck down by an early death I should be still alive to digitize it. So if you guys can stick around it will happen eventually

Any idea, at all, when this might be?

Very possibly never, since Greater Magic was published after Mickey Mouse was created.

I have a copy of Greater Magic in PDF. I don't remember where it came from though. Some website. I've had it a few years. So this was never released by Lybrary? I wonder where this came from? Please, do not ask me to make you a copy. It is a HUGE file!

Doug

Lybrary.com never released Greater Magic as an ebook.

Wow. I wonder where this came from...I have had this for years. Many years. Sheesh. It's perfectly scanned and it's a beaut. I collect magic books in PDF. I actually have a PDF of The New Modern Coin Magic by Bobo as well.

Doug

Doug, all I can say is that whatever you have are unauthorized scans. These are copyrighted books and to the best of my knowledge the owners have not authorized digital versions.

Yes, well...

OK, now I know. For that reason, guys, please...no more PM's asking for a free copy. I feel bad enough about it. I'm not going to destroy it, but will not allow it to be copied. Man, I wonder where this came from?

Doug

If my calculations are correct, the original edition should fall into the public domain in 2033 if it's original copyright was renewed in 1966. If the copyright was not renewed in 1966, the original edition is already in the public domain.

It was renewed. I checked this years ago

You don't appear to have calculated for Disney continuing to purchase legislative rewrites of copyright terms in order to prohibit Mickey Mouse from ever falling into the public domain.

Of course, a change in copyright law can happen as it did several times in the past. But I think extending copyrights cannot go on ad infinitum.