Does anyone know what would be the most valuable magic book on earth?
By most valuable I mean something that belongs in a museum or behind a glass protected shield.
In other words THE book....

I would hazard a guess of an original copy of "The Discovery of Witchcraft"

That could be. I have seen various reproduced pages from an original copy but never seen an original.

The gaffed padlocks back then were nuts, if memory serves they were used to look like a bull ring was coming out of someones nose. Sort of a carne freak item.

Not as old as "The Discovery of Witchcraft" is the French 'trilogy': "Nouvelles Récréations Physiques et Mathématiques", 1785, which is the most valuable for me. While not protected behind a glass shield, it has an important place in my library.

Peter

'Most valuable magic book' can be interpreted in several ways. Valuable in terms of money? Valuable in terms of contents?

"Hocus Pocus Junior" for example is very rare. Only a few copies are known to exist. "Discoverie of Witchcraft" is to my knowledge not that rare and has been reprinted several times.

For example "Physical Amusements and Diversified Experiements" from Pinetti is both very rare and a magnificent magic book with lots of great magic tricks. The Discoverie does not have a whole lot of magic in it and the things that are described are not that great in my opinion.

So my personal vote would go for the Pinetti book.

Chris Wasshuber

Chris would know best, Check out his site too, it's the one I've been telling ya'll about.

X

Scot's The Discoverie of Witch Craft is the most valuable book without a doubt. The Magic Circle London has an original copy in its library which I have been lucky enough to look through and touch!
TOMMY

Hi, everyone
Great question. There were many editions of Scot's Discoverie and they are worth a lot, but generally not as much as other books that exist in only a couple of copies, notably The Art of Jugling and Hocus Pocus Junior. Also considered by collectors as a Holy Grail is one of the four numbered bound copies of the original Annals of Conjuring published by George Johnson.
Best wishes,
Todd Karr

Probably not the most valuable book ever but The Magic of Robert Harbin has got to be way up there. I saw someone selling a "photocopy" of that book on a site awhile back and it was up over $600.00. I have always wanted to see that book. Prior to the reprint by Kaufman, Greater Magic was a pricey book too and was off the market for many years.

quack

Scot's Discoverie is neither the rarest nor most valuable (price wise) book on magic. For example, a pristine first edition of Scot's sold in private sale for slightly over $30,000 recently. However, most first editions of this work do not realize prices that high.

Interestingly, the 3rd (I believe) edition of Scot is more desirable than the 1st as it was the one to be produced in folio size.

Ady's Candle in the dark is decidedly more rare as is the aforementioned Hocus Pocus Jr.

I personally think the Andruzzi books were some of the more interesting modern texts to realize prices of $1,000+.

The Westcar Papyrus, now there is a magic artifact that is both unique (as in one of a kind) and of considerable historical as well as financial value. Sadly, I understand, it has been lost.

"The Whole Art of Legerdemain or Hocus Pocus in Peferfection" by H. Dean (1763) is one of the very early books entirely on magic. These run in the many thousands of dollars if you can find one. 200 copies were reprinted in 1983 for those interested in the contents.

Personally "The Discovery of Witchcraft" is a book I do not think anyone would find of interest with the exception of it's value. As far as most valuable for actually using the contents I would probably say the Harbin book and second the Albo series, also have to include Greater Magic.
Rennie

I understand that the book “The Discovery of Witchcraft” makes mention of a manuscript on magic that pre-dates it. But no one has been able to find this manuscript, or prove that it even exists. Does anyone have any more details about this manuscript and who may have searched for it? I suspect if it is ever found it would be the most valuable book in magic.

I believe an original copy of Discoverie (1584) just went for $20,000 on Martinka.

http://www.martinka.com/martinka/auction......ID=13364

I guess the economic downturn hasn't affected everyone??

Simon

With commision, it went for $23,000.00

A proof copy of "A Magician Among The Sprits" sold for $30,000.00 some years back as I remember.

There's never an economic downturn in quality collectibles.

So have you received it yet Kevin????

I think one copy of Discoverie of Witchcraft is in Davenports collection.

No. I was knocking-heads with Blaine over some other Houdini stuff.

The first edition that sold on the Martinka was the Davenport copy.
It was won by a Scandinavian performer named Lars Peter Loeld.

I guess this needs an update?