Christopher, Milbourne: The
Illustrated History of Magic ©1973 Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., NY Hardcover, w/dj, 452 pages ©1996 Heinemann Hardcover, w/dj, 484 pages ©2006 Carroll & Graf Publishers, NY Softcover, perfect-bound ISBN: 978-0-78671-688-3 |
![]() 1973 Edition Image courtesy e-Bay seller CoronaSmith |
![]() 1996 Edition Image courtesy e-Bay seller trr3d |
![]() Image from Magicref |
Comments: Color illustrated. From the dust jacket flap:
"This is the most comprehensive history of magic ever published.
Drawing from his own famous collection of magic memorabilia, Mr.
Christopher has illustrated his history with a wealth of prints,
photographs, playbills, and engravings - many of them rare items
never before published." The 1996 edition includes some updates by
Maureen Christopher.
Contents: (Chapters Only - 1973, 1996, 2006 editions,
updated July 2019)
1 Chapter 1 Myth or Magic
8 Chapter 2 The First Wonder-Workers
30 Chapter 3 The Automaton Chess Player
48 Chapter 4 Magic in the Colonies
69 Chapter 5 American Indian Conjuring
82 Chapter 6 Professor Pinetti
97 Chapter 7 Signor Blitz
111 Chapter 8 The Great Wizard of the North
131 Chapter 9 Robert-Houdin Innovator
155 Chapter 10 England's Home of Mystery
181 Chapter 11 The Great Herrmanns
198 Chapter 12 Around the World with Kellar
222 Chapter 13 Thurston The Wonder Show of the Universe
241 Chapter 14 Ching Ling Foo, Chung Ling Soo, and The Great
Lafayette
259 Chapter 15 The Selbit Sensations
274 Chapter 16 The Great Vaudeville Specialists
293 Chapter 17 Le Roy and Goldin Trendsetters
319 Chapter 18 Carter, Nicola, and Raymond
339 Chapter 19 Houdini
368 Chapter 20 Blackstone Versus Dante
388 Chapter 21 Dunninger Master Mentalist
401 Chapter 22 Big Shows and Small Screens
432* Chapter 23 Magic Superstars Poised for the Twenty-First
Century
465** Chapter 24 2005 Update on the Magic Scene
433 Sources and Acknowledgements
435 Bibliography
441 Index