Specializing in Houdiniana

The Stephen A. Sparks Collection

Specializing in Houdiniana

BOOK Section

Weather In Spring, Texas

Welcome to the "BOOK Section - Part One" .

Below you'll find quite an assortment of Books to choose from.

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If you've any questions or need further information, please don't hesitate to contact me:

Stephen A. Sparks (a/k/a Sparky) - P. O. Box 1345 - Spring, Texas 77383-1345 USA

281-353-1014 (Phone and/or Fax) ~ 281-827-4001 (Cell)

Or, click here to email me >>>>> Houdini374@aol.com<<<<<

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(After viewing this Books Part 1 page, please click on any of the buttons above to move to any of the other Pages)

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3496-4556) THE MAGIC OF SLYDINI written and photographed by Lewis Ganson

Contents Include:

The Art of Using the Lap as a Servante (Part One, Position and Timing) - The Art of Using the Lap as a Servante (Part Two, Misdirection) - The Paper Balls in the Hat - Slydini's New Cigarette Miracle - Two Cigarettes from One Cigarette Fantasy - Sponge Ball Magic - Coins through the Table - Slydini's New Version of the Coins through Table - The Flight of the Paper Balls - Rope Trickery - The Helicopter Card - Slydini's Knotted Silks - Slydini's Torn and Restored Newspaper

The BONUS of this offering is the book is Autographed By Slydini on the free end page:

To my friend Dan
With best wishes and the hope that
you will enjoy the magic of:
SLYDINI

HardBound with ORIGINAL DustJacket and 208pages.

No line drawings in this book - rather a MASSIVE 450 Photographs with Slydini teaching you, first hand, all his magic miracles.

Book measures approx. 6 1/2"x9 1/2".

As an Extra BONUS, I'm including Six COLOR photographs of Slydini performing during the Texas Association of Magicians convention, at the St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio - August 29th-September 1, 1969.

The photos each measure 4"x6" and while they were made recently - they WERE made from the ORIGINAL 1969 negatives.

It doesn't get much better than this!!

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The last part of this offering is an autographed Slydini 8"x10" photograph from the 1960s.

As can be seen from the first photo, above, the signed photograph is from a scrapbook. This page has a sticky surface to hold the photo in place. The photo has been like this since the 1960s and is stuck to this page. It could possibly be removed, but I'll leave this to the next owner.

Both the signed book AND signed photograph are original and not reprints. - $200.00/(for everything)

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of the Other Seven WebPages - where you'll find ManyMore items for sale.

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3497-5444) SLYDINI ENCOREs by Leon Nathanson, M.D.

The content page has been reproduced, below, for ease in reading.

The BONUS of this offering is the book is Autographed By Slydini on the free end page:

To my friend Bob
With best luck
Sincerely
SLYDINI

PaperBound with 157pages.

No line drawings in this book - just under 200 Photographs (199 to be exact) with Slydini teaching you, first hand, all his magic miracles.

Book measures approx. 6"x9".

The photos each measure 4"x6" and while they were made recently - they WERE made from the ORIGINAL 1969 negatives.

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The last part of this offering is an autographed Slydini 8"x10" photograph from the 1960s.

Both the signed book AND signed photograph are original and not reprints. - $200.00/(for everything)

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3498-8749) NOW YOU CAN GET THE BEST OF 'SENATOR' CRANDALL

Compiled by Neil Foster. Introduction by Robert Lund.

PaperBound with 108pages.

If you weren't around in the 1960s, you REALLY MISSED one of the marvels of our time:

Clarke 'The Senator' Crandall

He looked just like the photo's below.

Early in the evening, he looked like the photo on the left, but as the evening progressed and the more everybody drank, he looked more like the photo on the right. Ha!!

Besides my having been able to personally observe 'The Senators', wit, charm, etc., we were fortunate to be able to read his monthly column (which ran from 1963 to 1968) in the magazine THE NEW TOPs.

The contents, of the book offered here, aren't ALL the articles, but almost 60 of which the editor of THE NEW TOPs, Neil Foster, thought GREAT enough to put into book form.

The Content Page has been reproduced, below, for ease in reading.

As an BONUS, I'm including an Original 3 1/2"x5" photograph, of The Senator, from Abbott's Get-Together, back in August 1969.

As just stated, this is an ORIGINAL photograph, from 42years ago and not a recent reprint.

The words "GranHoudini" do not appear on the photo, itself - only superimposed for this listing.

Buy this book, sit back and just laugh yourself silly!!

The book measures approx. 8 1/4"x10 3/4". - $35.00

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3499-9344) LETTERs ON NATURAL MAGIC. Addressed to Sir Walter Scott. By Sir David Brewster. Published by J.&J. Harper. New York. Title page shows "Harper’s Stereotype Edition" and the date of 1832. On the front of the book it shows "Harper’s Family Library. No. L." and the date of 1833. HardBound (rebound?) with 314pages.

What's the oldest book in your collection? If not this early, then this book is for you. - $75.00

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3500-6985) AMERICAN MUSEUM OF MAGIC, It's True Story by Daniel Waldron.

"Being an eye-witness account of its fantastical conception, wonders and glories as created by its founders Robert and Elaine Lund".

Unfortunately, both Bob and Elaine have passed away.

PaperBound with 47pages and over a dozen photographs and illustrations.

Great reading about this "one of a kind" Museum. - $35.00

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3303-9547) QUICKER THAN THE EYE by John Mulholland

The Magic and Magicians of the World.

Book measure approx. 6"x8 3/8". The content page was so detailed, I have reproduced it below for ease in reading.

Stated First Edition

The BONUS of this offering is the book is INSCRIBED and AUTOGRAPHED, on the free end page, by the author:

For Gordon Welles
who has said he liked
this book - which
may or may not be a
result of Princeton
Cordially
John Mulholland.
1932

At least I think the first name is Gordon - what do you think?

Fading on the spine and a bit of wear, but the pages inside are just fine.

HardBound with 259pages -and- Original DustJacket. - $275.00

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3304-9547) QUICKER THAN THE EYE by John Mulholland

The Magic and Magicians of the World.

Book measure approx. 6"x8 3/8". The content page was so detailed, I have reproduced it below for ease in reading.

Stated First Edition

Light fading, at the top and bottom of the spine, but the pages inside are just fine.

HardBound with 259pages -and- previous owners BookPlate located inside the front cover. - $75.00

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3269-6645) Inventory Book Reduction Lot #1

a) BROWSING AROUND IN MAGIC by Bert Pratt. Copyright 1972 and published by Magic, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois. SoftBound with 52pages. Book measures approx. 5 1/4"x8 1/2". The BONUS of this offering is the book was limited to 500 copies, of which, this is the very low number of #61.

b) GRANTs PATTER FOLIO by U.F. Grant. First printing 1934. This is the second revised printing from 1968 by Magic, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois. PaperBound (measuring approx. 5 1/2"x8 1/2") with 20pages. Previous owners name rubber stamped on the inside. (Sold on Ebay)

c) 33 Rope Ties and Chain Releases by Burling Hull. Copyright 1947 by the author in New York. Paperbound. 48pages. This is book numbered: 1493. This edition starts off with: HOUDINI DID NOT STEAL THIS BOOK! Scotching A Rumor That Is Constantly Arising A manual for the Profession on the art of rope tying and methods of obtaining releases from ropes, chains and shackles. Book measures approx. 5 1/2"x8 1/2" Previous owners name rubber stamped inside.

e) The "HOW TO BOOK" Of The CHOP CUP. Copyright 1980 and published by Morrissey Magic, Ltd. of Ville St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada. CombBound with 32pages. Book measures approx. 8 1/2"x11". A few pen marks on the cover.

Four books, all for the one low price of: ~~$25.00~~ now priced @ $20.00

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3270-4847) Inventory Book Reduction Lot #2

a) MAGIC, WITCHCRAFT and the OCCULT by Geoffrey Lamb. PaperBound with 173pages. Copyright 1977, paperback edition 1983. Published by David & Charles - Hippocrene Books, Inc. Measures approx. 5 1/2"x8 1/4". Previous owners name rubber stamped inside.

b) PATENT PENDING by Roger Barkann. A hilarious new act wherein a magician rides the Washington merry-go-round. Edited by Bob Novak. Copyright 1944 by Louis Tannen of New York. PaperBound (measuring approx. 6"x9") with 16pages. Previous owners name rubber stamped on the inside.

c) RON FROSTs Lecture Notes. Self-published by the author. No date given, but the year 1996 is shown in the autograph. The BONUS of this offering is the book is DOUBLE AUTOGRAPHED, on the inside cover, by the author. Previous owners name rubber stamped inside.

d) EASY STUFF, A Card Lecture by R.L. "Dr. Bob" Doggett. Copyright 1992 by Red Silk Variety Productions. SoftBound with 19pages. Measures approx. 5 1/2"x8 1/2". Previous owners name rubber stamped inside.

e) MAX THE MAGICIAN and DIANE Lecture Notes. SHOWMANSHIP, The Art That Conceals The Art. A LECTURE, On The Interpretation of Magic. No date given. SoftBound book with 28pages. Book measures approx. 8 1/2x11". Previous owners name rubber stamped inside. (Sold on Ebay)

Four books, all for the one low price of: ~~$25.00~~ now priced @ $20.00

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3278-9969) THE NEW MODERN COIN MAGIC by J.B. Bobo

Revised and Greatly ENLARGED Edition

Published, in 1972, by Magic, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois.

This is the Revised Edition, second printing.

This book contains 669 illustrations for the 116 coin sleights and 312 coin tricks.

The content page was so detailed, I have reproduced it below for ease in reading.

HardBound with Original DustJacket (in protective mylar holder) and a MASSIVE 519pages.

Measures approx. 7 1/2"x9 3/4". - $25.00

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REMEMBER, all photos are Thumbnails - click on the photo to bring up the LARGER photo.

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3289-8543) THE MODERN CONJURER And Drawing-Room Entertainer by C. Lang Neil

Explaining and Illustrating Tricks By:

J.N. Maskelyne - Trewey - Charles Bertram - T. Nelson Downs - Mdlle. Patrice - Paul Valadon - H. He Manche - L. Graham Lewis - Frank Kennard - Ellis Stanyon and others....

Published by C. Arthur Pearson Ltd. of London, England.

HardBound with DustJacket and 390pages. Book measures approx. 5 3/4x8 3/4".

The content pages were so detailed, I have reproduced them below for ease in reading.

Tough to find with Original DustJacket. - $100.00

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LayAway is available - if this is for you, just email for details.

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3469-7876) DAI VERNONs: FURTHER INNER SECRETs OF CARD MAGIC

Compiled and photographed by Lewis Ganson.

SoftBound book with 72pages.

This is the First Edition, from 1969, and published by Harry Stanley's Unique Magic Studio in London, England.

The content page was so detailed, I have reproduced it below for ease in reading.

The BONUS, of this offering, is the book is Autographed by Dai Vernon on the inside cover:

Fraternally
Dai Vernon

The book measures approx. 6 1/2"x9". - $125.00

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3471-5432) MAD MOJO by Andrew Mayne

A book of new and strange magic for the stage, parlor, living room, and beach- including impromptu, almost impromptu, and impromptu looking effects and routines.

PaperBound with 93pages.

Previous owners name rubber stamped inside.

The content page was so detailed, I've reproduced it for you below, for ease in reading.

Measures approx. 8 1/2"x11" - $20.00

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3472-4944) THE GREAT ILLUSIONISTs. By Edwin A. Dawes.

As the book states: "By the use of splendid and often unique illustrations of prints, playbills and memorabilia, coupled with a constantly entertaining narrative, this book traces the history of conjuring and illusion through the lives and achievements of the finest practitioners of the art, conjurers whose names have, in many cases, become legend".

Chapters include:

In the Beginning - The Learned Animals - Bags, Bubbles and Bottles - The Phenomena - The Conjuring Quacks - Laughing Gas - Phantasmagoric Professors - The Jewish Connexion - Wizards From The North - Science Et La Prestidigitation - They Also Conjured - Egypt and the Sphinx - Maskelyne & Cooke, Royal Illusionists - The Great Gun Trick - Sounds, Shadows and Shackles - Epilogue - References and Notes.

There are over 120 prints, photos and illustrations in this book. A WEALTH of Knowledge you, the reader, will find useful and fascinating. Not to mention the last 10 Pages are on HOUDINI!! - $25.00

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3411-6656) Great Magician In Great Moments, A Photo Album by Irving Desfor

First Edition from 1983. Published by Lee Jacobs Productions. Pomeroy, Ohio.

I would imagine EVERYBODY has seen an Irving Desfor photo in a magic magazine, book, etc. over the years.

The book, offered here, has almost 150 Desfor photographs. Each named with a caption or full paragraph.

From the back of the DustJacket:

For almost half a century, Irving Desfor has captured the history of magic with his camera. His name is synonymous with the best in magical photography. Now you have the unique opportunity to gaze through his eyes and his lens at the unfolding of this history. Catch a glimpse at moments in time that are gone forever except in the memories of a few. Many of Desfor's photographs confirm the reality behind the myths of yesterday. Great moments in magic are yours to savor and enjoy forever.

You now have the opportunity to help preserve the history of the arts of photography and magic. Walk through time as Desfor reveals stories and insights seen by just a few, stories which accompany his famous photographs. Irving Desfor and Lee Jacobs have compiled an album of photographic magical memories with commentary. They have assured that these precious treasures will not be lost.

Stand with Desfor while he watches Dai Vernon perform the fabled Harlequin Act. Watch Okito at the very moment he produces a huge bowl of water from nowhere. See Nicola in an unguarded moment. Experience what Harry Blackstone, Jr. experienced in the photo above where Desfor gives him a guided tour of classic pictures of his famous father. Pass through time with Desfor and see the greats of magic you have only heard of as well as those you see every day on television. See them through the eyes of a man who has known them all. Preserve your magical heritage.

The DustJacket has very little shelf wear -and- its done its job of protecting the book covers, as they are perfect. See photos below.

HardBound with DustJacket and 208pages.

Book measures approx. 8 3/4"x11 1/2"

The only thing greater than this book are all the photographs within. - $85.00

Harry Blackstone, Sr. at the Brooklyn Strand Theatre, December 1938
Al Flosso, April 16, 1966
Doug Henning and Dai Vernon at the SAM 50th Anniversary Convention, July 1978
Houdini's brother, HARDEEN, April 12, 1943

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3388-5218) POLISHED POLISH PRESTIDIGITATION by Johnny Thompson

Must a have been a Very Popular Book to need a second printing in only a month!!

Published by Busby-Corin, Inc. of San Francisco, California.

The content page was so detailed, I've reproduced it below for ease in reading.

CombBound with 39pages. Book measures approx. 6"x8 3/4"

The BONUS of this offering, the book is SIGNED!!

To Margret
Best Wishes
from
that Warsaw Wizard
The
Great
Tomsoni

Margret is Margaret Yates, who's bookplate is located on the inside front cover.

As you can see from the photo below, the two "o" in "Tomsoni" have been made to look like bowling balls - Johnny's signature magic effect.

A GREAT read from Las Vegas' legendary own: Johnny Thompson. - $35.00

(I had purchased several copies of this book from a well
known west coast magic collector. This is the Last One)

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3389-9876) DUNNINGER, What's On Your Mind? by Joseph Dunninger.

Published in Cleveland and New York by The World Publishing Company.

1944 First Edition from. 192pages with DustJacket. DJ missing a small portion at the top of the spine.

Contents Include:

Foreword by Joseph Dunninger - Introduction by Walter B. Gibson - What Is Telepathy? - The Challenge of the Unknown - Theories on Telepathy - Aspects of Telepathy - The Interwoven Web of Sense - Phases of Telepathy - Telepathy and the Mass Mind - Thought Transference with Individuals - Sudden Thoughts from Nowhere - Telepathy and Hypnotism - Telepathic Impressions Received in Sleep - Early Investigations of Telepathy - Advance Investigation of Telepathy - Telepathy through Contact - Conditions Needed in Telepathic Demonstrations - Telepathy Today.

THE TESTs: Lights and Shadows - Visualizing Colors - The Moving Hand - Mental Will Power - Thoughts in Action - Sensory Perceptions - Thought Identities - Mental Progression - Telepathic Elimination - Group Reception - Automatic Touch Projection - Intuitive Telepathy - Contact Thought Reading - Mental Attraction - Time on the Mind - Triple Telepathy - Thought in Rhythm - The Mind Commands - Finding the Letter - A Game of Will - Picture Perception - A Question of Squares - Distant Discovery - Developed Impressions.

Book measures approx. 6"x81/4" and is in pretty good condition, with some corner dings, but the inside pages are just fine. - $45.00

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3260-4888) KEN ALLENs Do-It-Yourself Lecture, No.1

CombBound with 30pages.

Contents Include:

A Snap
How To Tie A Bouquet Of Spring Flowers
Bloomin' Silks and Flowers
Automatic Flower Basket Production
Silk Maze
Colored Rods
Ken's Sneaky Silk Winder
Sneaky Silk Production
A Stunning Transposition
A Simple Card Force
The Spooky Pocket
Pulling The Wool
How To Make and Some Uses For A Pull
The Loop Pencil
Prize Winning Monkey In The Basket Routine
Ideas and Suggestions

Book measures approx. 8 1/2"x5 1/2"

The BONUS, of this offering is this is signed by Ken Allen in 1957 -and- the backside is signed by Col Harry Blackstone.

This, of course, being Blackstone, Sr. - No date given for his signature.

Includes a 1-page price sheet for Ken Allen Products (not shown below) - $75.00

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(After viewing this Books Part 1 page, please click on any of the buttons above to move to any of the other Pages)

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Please CLICK HERE to check out my BioPage. Besides the Bio - there are 40 great photos of RARE Houdini items. Many from my Personal Collection.

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We, at SASC, are pleased to offer a LayAway plan for those of you who would like this service. Just email for more information.

All photo's are the Copyright of Stephen A. Sparks Collectibles and may not be reproduced in any form or manner without permission of Stephen A. Sparks.

Stephen A. Sparks (a/k/a Sparky)
The Stephen A. Sparks Collection
Specializing in Houdiniana
PMB 114
2880 Bicentennial Parkway, Suite 100
Henderson, Nevada 89044 USA

702-558-6110 (Phone -or- Fax)
832-296-3624 (Cell)

Email: Houdini374@aol.com Ebay's: Gran*Houdini

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