Rydell, Wendy & George Gilbert: The Great Book of Magic ©1976 Product Development International; Plenary Publications International, Inc., NY Softcover, perfect-bound, 368 pages ISBN: 8109-1306-2

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Contents: (from book ToC, some page numbers are estimated, descriptions as listed in the contents):

11 The Magic of Magic: introduction to magic and magic making

12 Chapter 1 Black Magic White Magic: growth and development of magic from prehistory to the age of science. The primitive magician - the rites of imitative and contagious magic and the uses of black and white magic - the astrologer priests of Chaldea, the magic making of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome; the monotheistic Israelites; the rise of Christianity and the elevation of Satan; the Cabala; the growing conflict between magic and religion; the Church versus sorcery, witchcraft, Satanism, and all manner of Pagan Beliefs; the Inquisition; the tribulations of the conjurer and the alchemist; black magic scourged and the conjurer moved to center stage

22 Chapter 2 From the First Magicians: Dedi the Egyptian and the first recorded conjuring feat; the clever magic cum-science of the ancient Egyptian and Greek temple priests; the mystery of the cups and balls; conjuring in the New World; the gory machinations of Europe's medieval conjurers and the first exposes of their techniques; the Indian Rope Trick and other fabled magic of the Orient; Vaucanson, von Kempelen, and the automata of the industrial era - the magicians themselves: Jacob Philadelphia, Isaac Fawkes, Philip Breslaw, Gustavus Katterfelto, Giovanni Giuseppi Pinetti, and the dashing charlatan Giuseppi Balsamo, Alessandro, Conte di Cagliostro.

32 Chapter 3 To the Masters of Magic: The glorius golden age of magic, highlighting the lives and greatest tricks of its most masterful conjurers, including:
32 - The Innovator Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin and contemporaries The Great Bosco, Comus, Louis Comte, Philippe Signor Blitz, Joseph Michael Hartz, Robert Heller, John Henry Anderson
71 - The New World Reconquered - The Brothers Herrmann, including Carl, Alexander and the rest of the conjuring Herrmann Family, along with the Davenport Brothers, Professor Pepper and his fabulous "ghost", and the inventions of Joseph de Kolta.
78 - Founder of a Dynasty - John Nevil Maskelyne. Confrontation with the Davenport Brothers and the beginning of the dynasty, with the help of George Cooke and David Devant.
82 - To the Far Corners of the World - Harry Keller and companions-in-conjuring, the Fakir of Ava, the Davenports, and "Professor" William Fay.
88 - Magician to Millions - Howard Thurston and his master contemporaries, T. Nelson Downs, Leon Herrmann, William Robinson who became the Oriental Chung Ling Soo
94 The Great Escape - Harry Houdini: along with great magic making vaudevillians P.T. Selbit, Harry Goldin, Gus Fowler, Nate Leipzig, Cardini, Joseph Michael Hartz, and the creative conjurings of Johan Hofzinser, Wiljaba Frikell and Joseph Dunninger
106 - King of the Showmen - Harry Blackstone: and the masterful Sorcar, Jack Gwynne, Fred Keating, John Mulholland, and today's new breed of brilliant conjurers

115 Chapter 4 Fifty Contemporary Versions Of The Masters’ Most Alluring Tricks And How To Do Them: Featuring fifty dazzling deceptions adapted from the tricks of the world’s most masterful magicians. Complete step-by-step instructions for preparation and performance of each trick. Essential insight and advice for prospective performers from famous magician George Gilbert.
116 Card Magic
131 Mental Magic
143 Rope Magic
155 Money Magic
165 Paper Magic
171 Liquid Magic
179 Handkerchief Magic
191 Production Magic
203 Occult Magic
211 Classic Magic

231 Chapter 5 Another One Hundred Mystifying Tricks You Can Perform: Complete with easy-to-follow instructions so you can dazzle and delight your audience.

364 Bibliography
365 Index