stage magic (3 Ergebnisse)

First edition hard back binding in publisher's original black cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back and front. 8vo. 9½'' x 6¼''. Contains 123 pp with monochrome illustrations and 3 photographs throughout. The boards have been laminated and in Fine condition, no dust wrapper. No dust wrapper as issued. SIGNED by the author to the front free end paper 'Best wishes | Bobby Bernard.' Member of the P.B.F.A. MAGIC & CONJURING.

First Edition. Quarto. 35cm. Publisher's maroon cloth boards titled in gilt to front board. 46pp. Internally clean, light spotting to prelims, fore-edge untrimmed; Light wear and bumping to extremities, dulling of the cheap gilt, and some darkening and soiling to the cloth; strong and solid, a very good copy. Internally clean with the bookplate of Jim Ellis to the front flyleaf and a florid inscription to the facing blank: "To Jim Ellis from his friend, Jack [G]etrich." A rather typically extravagant collection of stage magic tips, tricks and techniques from Larsen Sr., the father of the intensely prolific William "Bill" Larsen Jr. and the origin of much of his stagecraft and "Impresario to the rich and famous" persona. It's probably fair to say that the Larsen's were one of the USA's most influential and long standing magical dynasties. The recipient is easy enough to identify; Jimmie Ellis, one time President of the Kudner Advertising Agency in New York, single-handedly responsible for the rise of the Buick Automobile Co. and widely acclaimed as a major figure in the 1950's US advertising world. Kudner were solely responsible for Buick advertising throughout the heyday of the company, under Ellis's direction. A life long Republican, Ellis was also instrumental in securing the popular vote for Eisenhower.

Limited Edition. No statement of edition or printing; numbered 811 of an unspecified number of copies. Small quarto. Publisher's green cloth, titled in gilt to spine; marbled endpapers; 490pp; illus. A crisp, clean copy, with faint handsoil to binding, just lightly rubbed at board edges and spine ends, very fresh and tight within; Very Good to Near Fine. Laid in (as found) are four leaflets, ca. 1930s, advertising products from the London purveyor of magic props, L. Davenport & Co. We note that there was a simultaneous deluxe issue in red morocco and a locking clasp, uniform with Goldston's other two books in the "Exclusive Secrets" trilogy. This cloth issue, though less elaborate, appears to be the scarcer of the two bindings. A very nice copy of this classic of modern conjuring literature, surprisingly scarce and often found well-worn.