Catalogs in Magic & Mentalism

This is Atlas Novelty Co's catalog from 1901. Atlas Novelty was owned by Emil Sorenson (stage name E. S. Burns), and it played a role in the Erdnase saga because it was the first to advertise The Expert at the Card Table at a reduced price in February 1903. Vernelo was the first to advertise the book in November 1902.

Noteworthy is the fact that Vernelo used the same title, Art of Magic Thoroughly Explained for some of his catalogs for his Wayne Novelty Co., and for Vernelo & Company. Sorenson and Vernelo collaborated on projects. They even copyrighted this catalog together. ...

A video catalog of 18 of Michael's top-selling magic effects. Demonstrations only. The effects presented are:

• Animated Origami Bill
• Beach Memories
• Big Coins
• Candle Rewind
• Cane Fire
• Chinese Appearing Sword
• Chinese Fans
• Chinese Lucky Envelope
• Cool Coil and Silver Coil
• Fanfire
• Firefall
• Fire Flower Rose Coil
• Fire to Silk
• Hot Coil
• Spitfire
• Sponge Poker
• 20-oz Production

video 8:32

The "Magic Ink" line of book catalogs.

This catalog has the same title, Book Catalog No. 2, the "magic ink" line of book catalogs, as this one but was issued likely a few years earlier around 1984.

1st edition 1984; PDF 287 pages.

Partial catalog of Electro Fun, Calcutta, India, entirely drawn and lettered by Ed Harris.

PDF 26 pages.

Partial catalog of Electro Fun, Calcutta, India.

This is not a catalog of our entire range of products, but a pictorial representation of our wide variety and range. It is the next best thing I can offer you to a personal visit to our showroom.

We have been creating and making props for magicians around the world for over 25 years. Our products are available through hundreds of magic shops all over the globe. This "Catalog" will enable magicians to get a better idea of the products than a mere name in a price list.

Most of the props we supply are accompanied by detailed instructions...

This catalog shows in the very back a photo of the Magic Inc. shop on the north side of Chicago. Jay Marshall also sold used magic books and magazines.

1st edition 1973; PDF 71 pages.

This catalog is great because not only does it list various books in different categories, it also features informative articles. The articles you will find are:

• Building a Collection / Leo Behnke
• Are Magic Books Worthwhile? / John Mulholland
• Books about Books / Robert Lund
• The Calculated Risk / Dr. Edwin A. Dawes
• Magical Bookie / S. R. Patrick
• The Magician and Comedy / Robert Orben
• Quest for Magic Books / George Jenness
• Buy Lines / J. B. Findlay

1st edition 1968; PDF 147 pages.

Tricks are grouped in the following categories:

• Beginning Magic
• Card magic
• Money Magic
• Close-Up Magic
• Mentalism
• Kids Show Magic
• Stage Magic
• Miscellaneous Magic
• Prices

1st edition 1994; PDF 224 pages.

Excerpt from the introduction:

Magic Inc. always emphasized books in their offering. They published a lot of books themselves, imported books from foreign countries, and carried a large selection of publications related to magic. This of course was driven by Jay Marshall's passion for books.

1st edition ~1982; PDF 165 pages.

Books are grouped in the following categories:

• Cards
• Coins
• Close-Up
• Mental
• Clowning, Balloons, Juggling, and Kid Shows
• Illusions
• Promotions
• Biography and History
• General

1st edition 1993; PDF 408 pages.

The "Magic Ink" line of book catalogs.

Excerpt from the introduction:

Covering books published around the world on the subject of magic and allied arts.

1st edition ~1985; PDF 70 pages.

Max and Tess Holden established their magic mail-order business in 1929. Through the years, the business grew to three locations (Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City). The Max Holden catalog grew to hundreds of pages, offering merchandise from their own line of magic and books, as well as those of prominent manufacturers such as Petrie-Lewis, Thayer, and many others.

Arranged by subject, the effects include spirit effects, close-up magic, mentalism, livestock effects, books, blueprints, tricks with cards, money, cigarettes, liquids, candles, silks, slates, thimbles, and many others. ...

If you have never looked through one of these big magic catalogs this one is a good example. Even though WWII had already started Abbott's was offering almost 2000 magic items for sale. They had pretty much everything one can think of.

1st edition 1940, 544 pages.

This catalog #15 was the first catalog issued after Percy Abbott's death. The exact date is not clear but most likely it appeared in 1962.

~1962, 488 pages.

From the introduction:

This catalog includes some error corrections for the prior catalog, advertises Holmes' Conjuring Serial No. 4 A Mind Reading Act, and then it describes items No. 400 to No. 481.

1st edition 1916, 36 pages.

This is the first catalog Martin Breese issued most likely in 1975. He had not yet begun to create and publish his own products. We therefore find in this catalog only products from other manufacturers, such as Ken Brooke, Johnson Products, Sterling Magic Creations, and others.

1st edition 1975, PDF 57 pages.

Martin Breese was an early adopter of video technology. He produced a number of videos in-house, and also retailed some of the earliest instructional magic videos available. This was the first video catalog Breese issued.

1st edition 1986, 20 pages; PDF 20 pages.

This was the catalog for Max Holden's Magic Shop. He had two stores, one in New York City, and one in Boston. He specialized in books. The 8 issues run from 1948 to 1951.

PDF 36 pages.

Otto Maurer had his shop in New York. He started as tin smith but soon made and fixed apparatus for magicians. His shop was for many years a gathering place for prominent magicians who came to town including Houdini, Thurston, and Downs. They all visited Maurer, bought from him, and exchanged the latest gossip and news. The most famous story about Otto Maurer is how he became the conduit for communicating the back palm from a Mexican/Cuban/Spanish cardshark to the magic community at large. (The originator of the back palm was Dr. Elliott.)

• Advice For Professionals & Amateurs
• No. 1 - Magic Nail
• No. 2 - Devil's Bottle ...

From the back cover:

From the introduction: