Magic: A Pictorial History of Conjurers

Magic: A Pictorial History of Conjurers traces the evolution of stage magic and illusion from the 18th century through the golden age of vaudeville. Through hundreds of rare photographs, playbills, and promotional materials, Price documents the careers and innovations of influential magicians who shaped the art form. The book chronicles major technological and cultural shifts in magic performance, from early fairground shows to grand theater productions and intimate close-up magic. Notable figures like Robert-Houdin, Herrmann, Kellar, Thurston and Houdini are featured with details about their signature illusions and contributions to magic methodology. The extensively researched volume includes first-hand accounts and correspondence that reveal the professional relationships, rivalries, and secrets of magic's most prominent practitioners. Price's archival materials provide context for how magicians developed and marketed their craft during magic's commercial peak. This comprehensive visual history illuminates magic's transformation from mysterious street entertainment to sophisticated theatrical art, while examining its enduring appeal as a form of deception and wonder.

Readers value this book for its collection of rare photographs and illustrations documenting magic history, with many praising Price's research into vintage promotional materials and behind-the-scenes images. Positives from reviews: - Detailed captions that provide historical context - High quality reproductions of posters and handbills - Coverage of lesser-known magicians alongside famous ones - Organized chronologically with clear categorization Main criticisms: - Text is brief compared to number of images - Price makes some historical claims without citing sources - Book size limits detail visible in some smaller photos Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (9 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) Specific comments: "Invaluable reference for magic poster collectors" - Magic Magazine review "Would have benefited from larger format printing" - Goodreads reviewer "More coffee table book than scholarly work, but images are fascinating" - Amazon reviewer

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🎩 Author David Price spent over 40 years collecting the rare photographs, posters, and memorabilia featured in this comprehensive visual history of magic. ✨ Many of the images in the book had never been published before its release, including private photographs from the personal collections of famous magicians. 🎪 The book covers the evolution of stage magic from the 1800s to the mid-20th century, documenting how performances changed with the advent of electricity and new theater technologies. 🪄 Several renowned magicians, including Harry Kellar and Howard Thurston, are shown in candid backstage moments, offering rare glimpses into their off-stage personalities. 📚 The book became a valuable reference work for magic historians, as it preserved images of promotional materials and apparatus that might otherwise have been lost to time.