James B. Findlay
(Glasgow, Scotland: 9th June 1904 - 15th July 1973)
Moved c1944 to Isle of Wight where he became a hotel owner. Amateur manipulator and major collector of magic books (6,000 titles), posters, and playbills. Semi-pro dealer in and publisher of magic books.
Edited the Thistle for a time and Collectors Annual 1949-72. Wrote 10 booklets, including Scottish Conjuring Bibliography (1951, 60pp), How's Your Library? (1958, 36pp), Conjurers Coins and Medals (1964, 72pp), Anderson and His Theatre (1967, 26pp), and The Wee Books (1972, 16pp). Articles in Collectors Annual, Sphinx, Abra, Magic Wand ("Collecteana" column), Magic Circular, Conjuriana, Magical Bookie, and Magic Cauldron. Also wrote articles under pen name of "Criticus".
His superb collection of magic books, willed to his son, Dr. David W. Findlay, was dispersed at public auction in 1979-80. A catalog is Findlay's Ninth Collectors Annual (1975, 280pp).
