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, 514 pages 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: (from 2006 edition book, updated July 2023)

ix Foreword (David Copperfield)

1 Chapter 1 Myth or Magic
8 Chapter 2 The First Wonder-Workers: Dedi the Ancient Egyptian Magician, early Cups and Balls, magic in Greece, Persia, Europe, etc.
30 Chapter 3 The Automaton Chess Player: Baron Von Kempelen's Chess Player, Jacques de Vaucanson, and other developers of automaton magical wonders
48 Chapter 4 Magic in the Colonies: early performers in NY, Philadelphia, etc.
69 Chapter 5 American Indian Conjuring: magic among the Indians in the Americas
82 Chapter 6 Professor Pinetti: Giovanni Guiseppe Pinetti of Europe, history, effects, interactions, shows
97 Chapter 7 Signor Blitz: Signor Antonio Blitz from Scotland, but advertised as Moravian
111 Chapter 8 The Great Wizard of the North: John Henry Anderson, also from Scotland
131 Chapter 9 Robert-Houdin Innovator: Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin from France
155 Chapter 10 England's Home of Mystery: John Nevil Maskelyne at Egyptian Hall and St. George's Hall in the 1800's
180b Color Illustrations: Color posters of famous magicians - Herrmann, Kellar, Harry Houdini, Leroy-Talma-Bosco, Carter the Great, and Blackstone
181 Chapter 11 The Great Herrmanns: Alexander, Carl, Adelaide, and nephew Leon
198 Chapter 12 Around the World with Kellar: Harry Kellar, virtual King of American Magic, late 1800's
222 Chapter 13 Thurston The Wonder Show of the Universe: Howard Thurston, early 1900s
241 Chapter 14 Ching Ling Foo, Chung Ling Soo, and The Great Lafayette: The Chinese magician and his imitators
259 Chapter 15 The Selbit Sensations: Englishman P.T. Selbit and his stage illusions
274 Chapter 16 The Great Vaudeville Specialists: Thomas Nelson Downs, Nate Leipzig, Gus Fowler, Jose Florences Gili, Cardini, and many others.
293 Chapter 17 Le Roy and Goldin Trendsetters: Servais Le Roy from Belgium; Horace Goldin from Russia
319 Chapter 18 Carter, Nicola, and Raymond: Charles Joseph Carter, William Mozart Nocol - Nicola, Maurice Francois Saunders - The Great Raymond
339 Chapter 19 Houdini: Harry Houdini
368 Chapter 20 Blackstone Versus Dante: Henri Bouton - Harry Blackstone; Harry Alvin Jensen - Dante
388 Chapter 21 Dunninger Master Mentalist: Joseph Dunninger
401 Chapter 22 Big Shows and Small Screens: Kalanag, Sorcar and other magicians appearing on film
432* Chapter 23 Magic Superstars Poised for the Twenty-First Century (Maurine Christopher)
434 - David Copperfield
439 - Siegfried and Roy
444 - Paul Daniels
446 - Lance Burton
448 - Melinda
451 - Harry Blackstone, Jr.
454 - Ricky Jay
456 - Princess Tenko
458 - Jeff McBride
458 - Doug Henning
463 - Milbourne Christopher

465** Chapter 24 2005 Update on the Magic Scene (Maurine Christopher)
467 - Cesareo Pelaez: Le Grand Davis, Moving Toward Thirty-Year Run
471 - John and Tammy Calvert
476 - Marc Salem: Student of the Human Mind
479 - Tim Conover: mentalism
483 - Penn & Teller: anathema to traditional magicians
485 - David Blaine: America's most sought-after magician

495 Sources and Acknowledgements
497 Bibliography
503 Index