Magic: 1400s-1950s

Magic: 1400s-1950s chronicles the art of stage magic and illusion across five centuries through rare photographs, posters, and historical artifacts. The large-format volume features over 1,000 images from private collections and museums worldwide. The book presents magic's evolution from medieval street performances to grand theatrical spectacles of the early 20th century. Chapters explore notable magicians including Robert-Houdin, Houdini, and Thurston, while documenting the changing nature of magic acts, stagecraft, and promotional materials. Each era receives analysis through cultural and technological contexts, showing how magic adapted to new audiences and venues. The text examines magic's relationship with emerging technologies like electricity and film, as well as its role in addressing public fascination with science and the supernatural. This comprehensive visual history reveals magic's enduring power to captivate audiences and its influence on entertainment, advertising, and popular culture. The book demonstrates how magicians both reflected and shaped the anxieties and aspirations of their times.

Readers describe this as a comprehensive visual history of magic that excels in its photography and production quality. The large format (16x12 inches) and 6-language translations make it accessible to collectors worldwide. Likes: - High resolution historical photos and posters - Detailed captions providing context - Quality binding and paper - Coverage of lesser-known magicians - Organization by historical era Dislikes: - Weight (16 pounds) makes it difficult to handle - High price point ($200+) - Some readers wanted more technical details about specific tricks - Text can be hard to read due to small font size Ratings: Amazon: 4.8/5 (89 reviews) Goodreads: 4.7/5 (28 reviews) Notable reader comment: "The photography alone justifies the price - seeing these artifacts in such detail reveals things I'd never noticed in other magic history books." -Magic collector on Magic Cafe forum

The Illustrated History of Magic by Milbourne Christopher A chronological journey through magic's development from ancient times through the 20th century, featuring photographs and explanations of notable illusions and performers.

The Last Greatest Magician in the World by Jim Steinmeyer The story of Howard Thurston's rise from street performer to global magic star includes details of his methods, rivalries, and innovations in stage illusion.

The Secret History of Magic by Peter Lamont, Jim Steinmeyer This examination traces magic's evolution from religious ritual to entertainment, revealing connections between magicians and scientists throughout history.

The Glorious Deception by Jim Steinmeyer The biography of William Robinson, who performed as Chung Ling Soo, presents the methods behind his illusions and the true story of his dramatic death on stage.

Art and Artifice by Jim Steinmeyer This collection of magic history presents the techniques and stories behind significant stage illusions from the golden age of magic.

🎩 The book weighs an impressive 15 pounds and contains nearly 1,000 vintage posters, photographs, and illustrations from the golden age of magic. ✨ Author Mike Caveney owns one of the world's largest collections of magic memorabilia, including rare books, playbills, and original stage props used by famous magicians. 🎪 The book features previously unpublished materials about legendary magicians like Harry Houdini, Howard Thurston, and Robert-Houdin, unearthed from private collections and archives. 🗝️ Many of the promotional posters featured in the book were designed to be destroyed after use, making the surviving examples extremely rare and valuable collector's items. 🎭 The volume traces the evolution of magic performance from medieval street entertainers to elaborate theater productions, showing how technological advances like electricity transformed the art form.