Treasures from the 
Egyptian Hall Museum

These two folders advertise Blackledge as a lecturer and a performer of magic. Both are plastic laminated.

This is a 1909-1910 date book measuring 2.75 by 6 inches, printed by the Francis-Valentine printing company in San Francisco. It is from the Carter the Great collection. Only 9 pages are written on but Carter’s name appears a few times. It is from the period between his first and second world tours. Good condition.

Two magic set box labels. The top one (9 by 13 inches) is from a Will Goldston set in London and is in excellent condition. The lower one (8.5 by 12 inches) is for the Aladdin Magic Outfit, put out in America by B&B Novelties. This one shows some damage, mainly in the upper left and lower right corners. Either one would look great framed.

A half dollar penetrates through a solid piece of glass. A most ingenious gimmicked box creates this visual illusion. The mahogany box measuring 3 by 4.5 inches, shows normal wear.

A bargain price because you have to iron it.

Published by the author, James Swain, in 1996. 190 hardbound pages measuring 8.5 by 11 inches. Filled with card magic from some of the biggest names in the business. Excellent condition.

148 pages of some of the most commercial close-up magic you can find anywhere. During the many years Eddie Fetter performed at the Forks Hotel in Buffalo, he became a legend and this is the magic that made him one. Written by Jerry Mentor and published in 1974. Contains a Mike Caveney book plate on the front end sheet. Excellent condition.

Largely the work of Jonathan Allen and Sally O’Rielly, this 115 page, soft-bound book measuring 7 by 10 inches, this is a fascinating mash-up of magic history and contemporary art. Printed in full color throughout, it contains dozens of articles that are illustrated with a wide variety of magic apparatus, posters and ephemera. Definitely suited to the magic collector and historian.

Written by Richard Stupple and published in 1993, this is a must-have booklet for anyone with a passing interest in the life and work of Eric Lewis. Richard knew him well in England, and after Eric immigrated to America, they remained in touch through correspondence. A second edition was published in 1993 for the IBM British Ring convention but this is the first edition. These fourteen plastic comb-bound pages measuring 8.5 by 11 inches are packed with information. Excellent condition.

First edition published in 1977 by the Genii Publishing Company long after William St’s death. 221 hardbound pages of magic, mentalism and stories of William Larsen and his magical family that included Bill Jr. and Milt. Also included are six routines by the legendary Dr. Q that William Larsen wrote for Floyd Thayer to market. Hardbound in excellent condition with a Mike Caveney book plate on the inside front cover.

Written by “A Retired Professional” and originally published in 1865. This new edition was published by Magicana in Toronto, Canada in 2008 and is currently out of print. Hardbound in green cloth with the title stamped with copper foil on the cover and spine. A handsome dust jacket features the book’s original artwork on the front and back covers. 91 pages measuring 4.5 by 7 inches. Includes a fascinating Introduction by Steve Forte. In like-new condition.

I know many serious book collectors who are not even aware of this magic biography. This is largely due to the fact that the print run consists of 24 numbered copies. A rare book indeed. It is the life story of cruise ship magician Jack Evans who was born in 1926. This hardbound book containing 199 pages is bound in blue leather with a full color dust jacket and a color photo tipped into the front. This is copy #21. Jack traveled the world on the seven seas and this is his story.

Borrowed handkerchief is pinned to this beautiful mahogany frame which is placed within a folded piece of newspaper. A knife is plunged through the frame in a variety of places yet the hank emerges unharmed. Some pin holes on one side of the frame from past performances. In the quality you expect from Floyd Thayer. No instructions.

For 4 months in 1988, an amazing magic show toured Germany’s most beautiful theaters.. This full-color, 32-page program measuring 8 by 12 inches is in German and just some of the acts were Shimada, Norm Nielsen, Marvyn Roy, Milo & Roger, Tina Lenert, Omar Pascha, and Rao (shadows). Printed on the cover is the city of Mannheim in Germany but this date was actually cancelled. A beautiful program from a truly fantastic show.

#50 of the 500 original Harbin books published in 1971. Excellent condition inside and out. The limitation page is signed by Harbin with the book number {50} handwritten. Also printed on this page is “This book belongs to” and there is a space for the original owners signature. {see second photo} This copy was never signed so you could go down in history as the official owner of this copy. There is a group on facebook that attempts to track all current owners of the original 500 copies. Two copies recently sold at auction, one for just over $2,000 and the other (signed and inscribed by Harbin to Fred Barlow) for $3,600. All of which makes me think that this is a reasonable price. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a beautiful copy of this important book.

150 copies of Dai Vernon’s modern classic Revelation were produced in 2008. If memory serves, there were an additional six presentation copies. Tipped into each deluxe copy was a playing card used by Vernon during the time that Revelation was originally written during the 1950s. Also, a formal portrait of Vernon produced specifically for this edition is tipped onto the title page. Includes a leather-covered slip case with the title and author’s name stamped with copper foil. This copy is from the publisher’s private collection. In like-new condition.

A classic effect produced by P & L. Spectator places one of the three wooden “rockets” into the brass container and slips on the lid. Without so much as looking at the tube, the magician is able to announce the chosen color. Instructions not included. Good condition.

Try-fold brochure measuring 11 by 24 inches for this musician and magician. One fold has been reinforced with tape and it is plastic laminated. Illustrated throughout with photos of his act. Click arrow to see additional photo.

Measuring 11 by 24 inches, in fine condition, plastic laminated. illustrated with numerous photographs. This brochure was used to book dates on the Lyceum circuits.

On February 26, 1929 the parent assembly of the SAM in New York City put on a special tribute to the dean of the SAM. On this evening Powell presented his full show at the Heckscher Theatre. Attendees received this 6 by 8 inch, 20-page souvenir program. This copy is in like-new condition

8 inch by 13 foot silk streamer made up of six colors sewn together. Quite old but in like-new condition with original folds. Perfect for the working magician or the collector who wants to display their apparatus with period silk.

This 1979 hardbound book was written and published by John Mendoza. At that time, John was known for his commercial close-up magic but the purpose of this book is turn the trickster into a professional magician. Measures 6 by 9inches and contains 107 pages. Condition is like-new.

7 pieces of original Rooklyn publicity. Two 8 by 10 glossy portraits. One printed photo with billiard balls. One postcard. One small brochure advertising his mind reading show. One large color brochure advertising his many achievements around the world. 8 by 10 photo showing his full company onstage performing the Inexhaustible Beer keg. All in fine condition.

16-page Nicola brochure {with a red and black cover} contains dozens of photos, fascinating text and testimonials in like-new condition. Also a Nicola broadside (plastic laminated), printed on both sides, from an engagement in Indonesia which was a Dutch colony, thus it is written in Dutch. And, as a free bonus, a large Von Arx (Nicola’s brother) folder, printed on both sides featuring numerous photos and posters. This Von Arx item is in poor condition and is also plastic laminated.

New/old stock. My guess is that these fifteen silks are from the 1950s or 60s. They appear to be unused with the original folds still in them. I am selling them individually for $15 each. Send me an email telling me how many you would like and of what color. Perfect for the working magician or the collector who wants to display their apparatus with old silk in beautiful condition.

The Pasadena Magicians Guild presents The Floyd G. Thayer Golden Jubilee. May 16, 1953. 8-page program features a nice biography of Floyd written by his friend Don Slater. The show at Pasadena’s Shakespeare Club featured Merv Taylor, Marvin Roy, Arnold Furst, Bob Gunther, Señor Maldo, Bob Haskell, and The Larsen Family. Includes an original newspaper article from the Pasadena Star-News. Excellent condition.

I’ve never seen this image before so it may have been made outside the magic world. No telling how old it is but it is still folded into its original tissue paper. Two available.

From the 1929 convention in Lima, Ohio (because they had outgrown Egyptian Hall theater in Kenton) president W.W. Durbin presided over this gathering of IBM members. 20 pages, 9 by 12 inches in fine condition.

During the height of Camel Cigarettes scandalous magic exposure campaign in 1933 the Reynold’s Tobacco Company offered this 32-page booklet containing simple tricks that kids could learn plus the secret to the Vanishing Birdcage, Cut & Restored Rope, and a Duck Production. Because the always do, the magic world went crazy. Good condition throughout.

The 17-inch Swami silk was produced by Louis Tannen and has a few pin holes in it. Click on the arrow to see the 16 by 11 inch Russian silk that is in like-new condition. If you can figure out what to do with it, you are a better man than I. Click arrow to see Russian silk.

This is the same fantastic Trunk Book, published in the late 1930s, but the condition is not as good. The 58-page text block is loose in the cover and the last page is loose. But it is all here and is a feast for the eyes.

Silks At Your Finger Tips written and published by Jack Chain in 1940. A detailed explanation for this pretty effect. Rubber stamped on the front free end sheet by previous owner Robert Stepp and also contains a book plate from Colta & Colta Jones of Harrisburg, PA. i3 pages stapled and also two-hole punched. Condition is good.

Hints To Young Conjurers by Oswald Williams. No tricks explained but rather advice from this famous music hall performer on how to develop into a finished magician. 16 pages plus 6 pages of advertisements from a variety of British magic dealers. I had to include the photo of Williams that appears on the first page. A rather sinister-looking chap to be teaching our young magicians. Condition overall is good.

New/old stock, still with the original folds. Excellent condition. $20 each.

Offered here are a number of 36” multi-color silks. They are in very good condition and priced at $20 each. Click on the arrow to see each of the silks and then let me know which one or ones you are interested in.. You will also find a solid white and a solid green.

Houdini Exposes the Boston Medium Margery. This 38-page booklet was published in 1924 in an attempt to win a $2,500 prize from The Scientific American magazine. Illustrated with photos and line drawings. Cover shows some damage at the top and tape on the right side. Internally it is in very good condition.

First is a 14 by 22 inch, 8-page publication from when the Shazam show was at the Carillan Hotel in Miami in 1969. Includes lots of reviews and large size photos. Second is John and Irene’s 1959 brochure that includes their new Thin model Sawing illusion. And finally, a vintage 8 by 10 inch publicity photo. All in excellent condition.

Some very unusual items here because this is Charles Carter’s son, Larry Carter, who joined his father’s show during his 7th and final world tour. When Charles died in Bombay in 1936, Larry took over the show and became Carter the Great. Included is a vintage 8 by 10 inch publicity photo of Larry, a 4-page program from this tour, and a free pass to the show. After he returned to America, Larry sold Buicks in Brooklyn, NY. This advertising postcard has his name printed on it. And lastly, Larry’s actual membership card to the YMCA. All in very good condition.

I’ve not seen this item before. A lit cigarette is placed into your hand and it turns into a tie-dyed 18” silk. When the silk is released from your hand, the metal gimmick carries the cigarette safely into a pocket within the folds of the silk.

Pass your hand down these two 50-year-old silks and they both change color. Condition is good.

Billy Russell of Batavia, New York was a major player in the IBM back in the 1920s and 30s. It is interesting to see the kind of magic that filled a full-evening show during this time. One program states that Billy weighs 125 pounds and he will pay anyone $125 who can lift him off the floor. These two programs have been plastic laminated to the front and back of a piece of card stock. Thus, they are indestructible and will last you a lifetime.