I bought this book a while back and still it sits on my shelf just waiting to be read. Thanks, Jordini, for reminding me!

And not to seem like I'm jumping on a band-wagon, but I recently finished "Phantoms of the Card Table" as was enthralled with the starnge personalities and little petty fueds that gripped the magic community back then. Kind of reminded me of how things are now. great book!

I have read and I do like many books about the history of magic and biographies about magicians. When thinking about my favorite, I would have to say that it’s “The Man Who Was Erdnase” written by Bart Whaly with Martin Gardner and Jeff Busby published by Jeff Busby Magic, Inc. - simply because of its contrast to many of the other magical history books and biographies available.

Now, I must say that I’m not a big fan of cards or of card magic. I received the book as a gift shortly after its release and it took me a while to get around to reading it, but once I started I couldn't put it down. Without giving anything away, I’ll say it isn’t the standard magical history book. At times, it reads like a mystery novel and it’s apparent that a great deal of research was done (even though the conclusions arrived at may be debated). So, to sum it up, I’ll quote two lines from the “Forward” written by Martin Gardner- “ I believe that this amazing book will become as famous in the literature of magic as Andrews’ own classic. And what a sad, bitter, violent, fantastic story it tells!”. With that said, even if card magic or magical history books aren't your thing - check this one out as I believe it will provide an interesting read (even though it seems that it hasn‘t reached the status that Mr. Gardner had predicted, yet).

Moonlit, I like your observation, and agree that it is not the "standard" magic history book, though I'd be hard pressed to define the standard. Evans was very romantic, Christopher more matter of fact, Randi rather playful, etc.

Erdnase does read to me a bit like a mystery novel, but that approach does have its drawbacks in addition to its readability. It's probably fair to say that different styles appeal to different folks.

One writer yet to be mentioned is Val Andrews. He has written several "historically-oriented" books, including the beautifully produced "A Gift from the Gods," which contains many color reproductions of Chung Ling Soo posters.

Now, Andrews has been criticized for "fictionalizing" history, for in almost all of his books, he creates dialogue which is technically fictional, though he does believe it is representative of the character he is writing about based on his research. To me, the dialogue helps bring the characters to life, though I am mindful that it is really Andrews who is "speaking" and not the character.

John Booth is another writer who has not been mentioned, and he is a very prolific writer at that, having authored at least nine books with tons of history.

I'm a little bit surprised that nobody has yet mentioned one of the "biggies": Henry Evans.

I think we should clarify as it is Henry Ridegly Evans not Henry Evans the coin man.

HRE was a very good writer however most of his book are in the very expensive collectable category so I suspect many (including myself) have not read a complete work of his.

Among the historical magic books I own I have a very strong personal favourite.
Before coming to that...Other favourites include:

Al Flosso: The Coney Island Fakir
The Magic Of Max Malini
Stanley Collins: Conjuror, Collector, Iconoclast

I am about to recieve the Christian Fechner's "The Magic of Robert Houdin", so I am sure that they will also join the above list as brilliant books about history.

I am lucky enough to own a copy of Trevor H Halls book "Old Conjuring Books". This book goes into detail about the history of the first magic books written in English, starting of course with "The Discovery of Witchcraft".
This book is absolutely brilliant and gives real detail on all of the facts behind the true authors, and definate dates of publication, as well as other surprising facts about the author or the book.

owen

A man after my own heart. Someone who likes books about books.

Clay, the biggest problem is there are a lot of excellent history books published. (along with a fair amount of trash) The problem is trying to be fair and list them all. I don't think it can be done without writing another book.

But wait, that would be another bibliography in my library!! Oh happy days.

Hug, I've been chided before for saying "Henry Evans" instead of "Henry Ridgely Evans" - guess I'll never learn! Yes, his books are generally expensive. I wish Magico Magazine or somebody else would reprint the second edition of The Old and the New Magic. Then again, maybe it wouldn't sell enough copies?

Daniel: You're a bit off topic here, but that's fine with me. Since you mention Dawes' Stanley Collins, perhaps you've read his chapters where he goes into detail on Collins, Trevor Hall and others in connection with Hall's bibliography. Hall was a rascal, it seems, but his OCB is a nice book. I have Hall's own copy of his bibliography, one of twelve that he interleaved with blank pages, and it is full of his annotations and additions, together with the original copies of letters from the University he was attending (in the course of getting his doctorate) which documents his work in the magic bibliography field. My feeling is that this annotated copy of his bibliography was his working copy of Old Conjuring Books.

I also like his Some Printers and Publishers of Conjuring Books, perhaps the finest magic "book on books" published from a production standpoint. I have a duplicate of this book in mint condition if anybody is looking for a copy. I'm fortunate to own one of the 35 copies bound in full leather - like Bob, I love books on books.

Bob: yes there are quite a few titles out there. and that's why I'm doing the second edition of Historians' Guide to Conjuring: to try and document them all. My library is devoted exclusively to books on magic history, biography and bibliography, and I probably have at least 1300 books - so the literature is surprisingly rich and varied.

My apologies, Daniel. I meant to say that OCB was a little off topic. Your other titles were spot on, of course. Thanks for jumping in with your thoughts.

BTW, you will like Fechner's book. If it isn't the last word on Robert-Houdin, it's gotta be close to it.

For another writer, how 'bout John Mulholland and his Quicker Than the Eye and also his The Story of Magic?

OK, I'm officially jealous. One of these days history section will match that. If my wife doesn't dis-own me first.

Well Bob, that's after 30+ years of collecting and searching. I wish I had everything, but that will never happen.

I have about 8 boxes of book duplicates. Let me know if you are looking for anything in particular.

How long have you been collecting?

Clay, I just sent you a PM.

I have been aquiring books for about 12 years. Then one day, I realized it had grown into a collection. I think I have been calling myself a collector for about 3 years now.

Clay...
I am sorry that I deviated from the topic...Just a little nag...Please call me owen...Daniel is my surname...Had I only just joined I would most likely just use the name owen, the amount of times that I have to correct people!!!

How many books do you think makes a collector?
Thanks,
owen

I don't think you can place a number on this. I think it is more an attitude and the way you look at your books. It's like anything else you collect. Say, quilt collecting. When does it change from having a few quilts in the house to being someone who collects quilts. In my case I had over 600 magic books and still did not consider myself a collector (can you say denial.) Maybe I should have gone to book collectors anonymous. Atleast then I would have been able to admit I had a problem.

Someplace in there my attitude change and I looked at what I was doing differently. Now, like any other collector of items, it is all nicely cataloged and I have want lists.

So, are you a collector? I think only you can say that.

Owen:

I believe Bob Kentner has provided a good response to your question. You could have one book in your liabrary and be a collector, or thousands of books and be an inadvertent accumulator.

You'd probably get different answers to your question, but I distinguish a collector from an accumulator by one word: "hunter." If you actively seek (hunt for) certain kinds of books or certain titles, I think you are collector. By my definition, I guess you could have no books and still be a collector if you were just starting out.

Not everyone will agree with me, but those are my thoughts.

Bob: please send me your want list(s).

Milbourne Christopher's Panorama of Magic is one that I love. Mainly because I am such a fan of art, and it has art on EVERY page. Posters, promos, etc since the first days of magic posters.

Check out that book.

His Panorama is indeed nicely done, Astinus.

For those who PM'd me, I now have final information on the first installment of Historians' Guide to Conjuring (Redux).

It will in a large format, will have 92 pp (12 pp are in full color on glossy paper), will have a full color, laminated cover, and will be perfect bound, and will have about 64 illustrations, 34 of which are in full color.

The first installment will feature the writings of Edwin A. Dawes, the finest magic historian living today, and will contain bibligraphical and background information on his books which nobody has ever seen before.

It will also contain an illustrated 18 pp introduction which surveys the historical and biographical literature over the past 125 years, with over 125 full titles given and discussed.

It should be ready to ship by mid July. The price will be $46.50 plus $2.50 postage and it will be shipped in a heavy cardboard envelope.

The edition will be strictly limited to 200 numbered and signed copies.

At the risk of tooting my horn, this book will be a valuable reference source for historians, collectors, and book lovers. Based on the hard lessons I've learned in the past, I'd recommend purchasing a copy before the book goes out of print.

I do not know for a fact that once this edition is gone, it will go up in price. But I can say that copies of the first edition of my book (which originally sold for $25 in 1981) have changed hands in the past for as much as $300. There will be no reprints.

My apologies. I know this is off topic, but many of you from this thread aske me about the book and wanted to know, so I thought I'd post it here.

You can PM me to get address and payment information.

Thanks for reading and thanks to those who have written with words of support and encouragement.

Sorry - one more thing. All of the indices to Dr. Dawes' books will be provided in this book, allowing a researcher to quickly locate where Dr. Dawes has discussed a particular magician in his books.

My faves are:
The Illustrated History of Magic by Christopher
Germain the Wizard by Stuart Cramer
Modern Magicians by Christopher
Charles Bertram, Court Conjurer by Edwin Dawes.
The Modern Conjurer by C Neil Lang

The Bertram book is probably one of my very favorites since it gives quite a bit of history of the man rather than just explaining his magic. I love the Modern Conjurer for it's antiquity and pictorial view of the magic. Unless I'm mistaken, it was the first magic books with photos rather than drawings.


Rick

Hey Rick:

Can you help out and provide a few more details on your "Modern Magicians by Christopher" entry? You have me intrigued and stumped.

Thanks in advance,

Clay