Wizards, Sorcerers, and Magicians Pages at Spirit of America Bookstore

This page began while constructing the Harry Houdini [1874-1926] Page in late 2020. Houdini wrote several books on magic in the 1920s, and there are many books from that time and since that use Houdini's name but are not his work. The section on Books About Magic just grew and grew and was finally split off as this page, with a plan to include non-Houdini movies and books, as well as famous performers & scholars, and fictional characters such as Merlin & Chandu & "Harry Potter"; within a few weeks, the pages had grown to five!

The first thing, of course, is to define terms:
alchemist: practitioner of an ancient branch of natural philosophy and protoscientific tradition that attempted to purify, mature, and perfect certain methods and materials, such as chrysopoeia - the transmutation of 'base metals' (e.g., lead) into 'noble metals' (particularly gold); the creation of an elixir of immortality; the creation of panaceas able to cure any disease; and the development of an alkahest, a universal solvent
astrology & tarot: ancient systems that supposedly predict the future
conjurer: someone who exercises evocation, the act of calling upon or summoning a spirit, demon, god, or other supernatural agent; also: a performer of stage magic
mage: someone who uses or practices magic derived from supernatural or occult sources
magic: the practice of beliefs, rituals, and/or actions which are said to control and manipulate either natural or supernatural beings and forces
magician: someone who performs stage magic
magus (plural magi): a priest in Zoroastrianism and the earlier religions of western Iran
mystic: someone who seeks or practices altered states of consciousness
occult: in the broadest sense, a category of supernatural beliefs and practices considered to belong under neither religion nor science; in recent times the term often refers to such esoteric traditions as spiritualism, astrology, Theosophy, or Anthroposophy
paranormal: purported phenomena described as beyond normal experience or scientific explanation
shaman: someone who is believed to interact with a spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance
sorcerer/sorceress: distinguished from wizards as having an innate gift with magic, as well as having mystical or magical ancestry
stage magic, street magic: practice of the craft and art of deception and-or distraction for entertainment
voodoo: a religious cult, from Haiti, involving witchcraft and sorcery
witchcraft: the practice of magical skills, spells, and abilities; commonly associated with using supernatural means to cause harm to the innocent
wizard: a practitioner of paranormal magic

The definition of the noun 'magic' in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is:
1a : the use of means (such as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces
1b : magical rites or incantations
2a : an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source
2b : something that seems to cast a spell : enchantment
3 : the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand {or other craft}

Wizards and Magicians
to be added: World Champion Magician/Illusionist Wayne Alan, Professor Anderson, David Blaine, Cardini,
The Davenport Brothers, David Devant, The Great Lafayette, The Great Raymond, Hardeen, Robert Heller, Herrmann The Great,
Carl Hertz, Kellar, Tarbell, Dai Vernon, Wyman the Wizard

"Professor Solomon's Lives of the Conjurers, Volume One" [April 2014]
Written & Illustrated by Steve Solomon
http://www.amazon.com/Lives-Conjurers-One-Professor-Solomon/dp/0912509155/

"Professor Solomon's Lives of the Conjurers, Volume Two" [Feb 2015]
http://www.amazon.com/Lives-Conjurers-Two-Professor-Solomon/dp/0912509163/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011MFGQN6/
http://www.amazon.com/Lives-Conjurers-Professor-Solomon-2015-02-18/dp/B01FGKYDBA/

"Professor Solomon's Lives of the Conjurers, Volume Three" [Jan 2017]
http://www.amazon.com/Lives-Conjurers-Three-Professor-Solomon/dp/0912509171/

"Andrus: The Man, The Mind & The Magic" documentary [2008] /tt1326730/
http://www.amazon.com/Jerry-Andrus-Man-Mind-Magic/dp/B0793RSTZK/

"A Lifetime of Magic: Jerry Andrus" on DVD -
http://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-Magic-Jerry-Andrus/dp/B008Z240Q0/ #1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86qz1awJZjM video 1 trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeHMaFmEuvU video 2 trailer
http://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-Magic-Jerry-Andrus/dp/B008Z242NQ/ = #3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47PNVRgj5Po video 3 trailer

Harry Blackstone, Sr. [1885-1965]
Born Henry Boughton in Chicago, Illinois; early in his magic career he was billed as 'Frederick the Great',
later changed to Harry Blackstone or The Great Blackstone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Blackstone_Sr.

Harry Blackstone, Jr. [1934-97]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Blackstone_Jr.

	"Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise On The Art of Conjuring" [Book 1 = 1876] by Professor Hoffman The first book in the English language to really explain the techniques of performing magical feats was first serial-ized as 48 articles in a popular magazine for boys from 1872 until 1876; book provides advice on appearance, manner of dress, and staging for magicians, and goes on to describe many different effects with playing cards, coins, watches, rings, handkerchiefs, dominoes, dice, cups & balls, balls, and hats; it concludes with a long chapter on miscellaneous tricks, including magic with strings, gloves, eggs, rice and other objects; the final chapters describe large stage illusions with more advice on staging; the first edition of 2,000 copies was sold out in seven weeks Kindle Edition from e-ArtNow [5/2020] for 99¢ Martino Fine Books 9x6 pb [4/2016] for $17.95 Franklin Classics 9¼x6¼ hardcover [10/2018] for $29.95 Literary Licensing, LLC 9x6 hardcover [3/2014] for $60.95 book entry at Wikipedia • 1877 edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive
	"More Magic - with 140 Illustrations" [Book 2 = 1890] by Professor Hoffman portions of this book were first serialized in a popular magazine for boys circa 1888; contents include advice on magicians' stage props, and instructions for tricks with card, coins, handkerchiefs, balls, hats, and other objects Kindle edition not found on Amazon (2020) Forgotten Books 9x6 pb [11/2013] for $17.25 Franklin Classics 9¼x6¼ hardcover [10/2018] for $29.95 out of print/used book entry at MagicPedia • 1890 edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive
	"Later Magic" [Book 3 = 1903] Invented & Arranged by Professor Hoffman instructions for tricks with cards, watches, rings, handkerchiefs, flags, gloves, eggs & hats; Second Edition adds two chapters on: 'New Miscellaneous Tricks' and 'Recollections of Hartz The Wizard' usable Kindle edition not found on Amazon (2020) Kessinger Publng 11x8¼ pb [9/2010] for $42.36 E.P. Dutton & Co. hardcover [orig 1918] long out of print/used 1911 second edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive
	"Latest Magic: Being Original Conjuring Tricks" [Book 4 = 1918] by Professor Hoffman the original tricks described in this book are: Magical Mats, Dissolving Dice, A Royal Tug of War, Money-Making Made Easy, The Riddle of The Pyramids, The Oracle of Memphis, The Wizard's Pocketbook, and Tell-Tale Fingers Kindle Edition from {unbranded} [6/2013] for $2.99 Palala Press 9¼x6¼ pb [2/2018] for $14.95 Kessinger Publng 9x6 hardcover [9/2010] for $33.56 1918 edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive

	"The Secrets of Conjuring and Magic: or, How To Become A Wizard - with Illustrations" [1868/1877] by Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, Translated & Edited with Notes by Professor Louis Hoffmann original "Les Secrets de La Prestidigitation et de La Magie" [1868] was in French, English translation in 1877 Kindle Edition from {unbranded} [1878 edition] for $2.99 Cambridge Univ Press 8½x5½ pb [11/2011] for $41.99
	sequel "The Secrets of Stage Conjuring" [1877/1881] by Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, Translated & Edited with Notes by Professor Louis Hoffmann posthumous sequel "Magie et Physique Amusante" [1877] was in French, English translation in 1881 Kindle Edition from {unbranded} [1900 edition] for 99¢ Wildside Press 8½x5½ pb [1/2008] for $14.99 Magico hardcover [1893 reprint] out of print/used Wentworth Press 9¼x6¼ hardcover [3/2019] out of print/used 1885 French-language edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive 1881 English-language edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive
	"The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin: The Truth About Magic - with 200 Superb Illustrations" [1908] by Harry Houdini, The World-Famous Jailbreaker and Handcuff King Kindle Edition from (unbranded) [5/2013] for $2.99 CreateSpace 9x6 pb [9/2014] for $6.99 Outlook Verlag 9x6 hardcover [8/2020] for $64.90 {sic} 1908 edition available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive
	"The Magic Man: The Life of Robert-Houdin" [1972] by I.G. Edmonds Thomas Nelson hardcover [1972] out of print/used
	"The Magic of Robert-Houdin: An Artist's Life" in 2 volumes [2002] by Christian Fechner Editions F.C.F./Miracle Factory slipcover hardcover set [2002] out of print/scarce
	"Essential Robert-Houdin" [2006] Edited & Introduction by Jim Steinmeyer self-described as the most complete version of Robert-Houdin's "Memoirs" [1857], with addition of previously-omitted material The Miracle Factory 10¼x8¼ hardcover [11/2011] out of print/used The Miracle Factory 10¼x8¼ hardcover [5/2011] out of print/used The Miracle Factory 10¼x8¼ hardcover [5/2011] out of print/used

	"Lives of The Conjurers" [1876] by Thomas Frost [1821-1908] book is considered to be the first significant history of magic, although magician Harry Houdini, magic historian Walter B. Gibson, and others complained of glaring errors, especially in relation to the magician Wiljalba Frikell Kindle Edition from HardPress Publng [5/2018] for $7.95 HardPress Publng 9x6 pb [7/2019] for $14.95 Sagwan Press 9¼x6¼ hardcover [8/2015] for $27.95 available as free online etext/flip-book at Internet Archive
	"The Master Magicians: Their Lives and Most Famous Tricks" [1966] by Walter Brown Gibson [1897-1985] eight chapters, covering Robert-Houdin, Prof. Anderson, Herrman The Great, Kellar, Chung Ling Soo, Howard Thurston, Houdini & Hardeen, and The Great Raymond Lyle Stuart/Citadel Press pb [10/84] out of print/used Doubleday & Company hardcover [1966] out of print/used Doubleday & Company hardcover [1966] out of print/used
	"The Magic Makers: Magic and The Men Who Made It" [1976] by I.G. Edmonds book describes the lives & careers of pioneer scientist Roger Bacon [1220?-1292], said to be the first to apply science to magic; the Herrmann Brothers, Compars 'Carl' [1816-87] and Alexander [1844-96]; magician Joseph Pinetti [1750-1803), who was able to vanish his own head; clockmaker Christopher Pinchbeck [1670-1732], who became famous for his musical automata in collaboration with magician Isaac Fawkes [1690-1731]; bureaucrat & inventor Wolfgang von Kempelen [1734-1804], who constructed the famous chess player automaton 'The Turk' – and many more Thomas Nelson pb? [6/76] out of print/used Thomas Nelson hardcover [6/76] out of print/used Thomas Nelson hardcover [6/76] out of print/used

	"Dunninger's Complete Encyclopedia of Magic" [1967] by Joseph Dunninger Spring Books 11x9 hardcover [12/88] out of print/used Spring Books 11x9 hardcover [12/88] out of print/used Spring Books 11x9 hardcover [6/70] out of print/used Spring Books 11x9 hardcover [6/70] out of print/used Spring Books 11x9 hardcover [1967] out of print/used
	"Dunninger's Secrets" [1974] by Joseph Dunninger as told to Walter B. Gibson 'An exciting probe into the mystery of magic' Lyle Stuart hardcover [6/74] out of print/used Lyle Stuart hardcover [6/74] out of print/used

	"King Koko: or, The Pretty Princess and The Lucky Lover" [1904 novel] by Professor Hoffman, Illustrated by H.L. Shindler tagline: 'a conjuring entertainment in the form of a fairy tale with practical instructions' Chatto & Windus hardcover [1904] long out of print/used
	"Magical Titbits" [1910] by Professor Hoffman book intended as the fourth of his series, but he was unable to finish it; he managed to produce "Latest Magic" as the fourth book in 1918 instead G. Routledge & Sons hardcover [1910] long out of print/used

	"Magic Land of Allakazam" network TV show [1960-64] network television’s first weekly magic series aired for two years on the CBS-TV network and three years on the ABC-TV network; filmed in Studios 31 & 41 at C.B.S. Television City in Hollywood, and sometimes in the parking lot • starring Mark Wilson, Nani Darnell, Bev Bergeron {as Rebo the Clown}, pre-teen son Mike Wilson video/DVD/Blu-ray not available • incomplete credits at IMDb thorough history of the TV show at TV fansite
	"Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic" [orig 1975] by Mark Wilson Translated into Italian, French, Russian & Chinese; more than 2,000 illustrations; over 850,000 copies published; 'the most popular book of magic instruction in history' Running Press 11x8½ pb [5/2003] for $20.23 Courage Books 11¼x9 hardcover [1988] out of print/used
	"Mark Wilson Presents Video Course In Magic" on VHS [Magical Prodns 1992] VHS set of eight tapes, details not found • not listed at IMDb volume 1 teaches 25 amazing tricks - watch volume 1 [4/2020 upload; 1:29:28] online at YouTube

Spirit of America BookstoreWizards, Sorcerers, and Magicians

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Wizards, Sorcerers, and Magicians