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Robert Nelson and his brother Larry ("Alla Rageh") started the Nelson Enterprises in 1921. This Master Index cross-references by title, catalog issue and page number every effect, book and manuscript issued by Nelson from 1927 through the last catalog in 1972. This Master Index represents a summary of:

• 45 years of Nelson Enterprises catalog offerings.
• 21 Nelson catalogs.
• 5846 total items appearing in those catalogs.
• 2476 total pages are summarized in this Master Index.
• 1276 separate effects, books, appear in this Master Index.
• 125 pages are in this Master Index.
• 36 months in preparation. ...

Vernelo, another Chicago magic dealer, not only sold a good selection of magic tricks but also novelties, puzzles and a large selection of non-magic books. About half of this catalog is dedicated to books in all kinds of fields of interests including letter writing, public speaking, jokes, stories, bookkeeping, photography, calculations, and many more.

1st edition 1901, 192 pages.

Robert Nelson and his brother Larry ("Alla Rageh") started the Nelson Enterprises in 1921. Their first "catalogs" were printed on thin, onion-skin paper. By 1931, their catalogs were books in their own right, this one boasting 236 different effects, books, and services catering almost exclusively to the mental, mediumistic and gambling fraternities.

Originals of this catalog are virtually impossible to find, as they jealously hoarded by mentalists, magicians and occult collectors. Now reprinted in convenient PDF ebook format, the Nelson Enterprises Catalogue 12 is once again available to...

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.

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.

Excerpt from the introduction:

August Roterberg was a very successfull magic dealer working from Chicago in the 19th century. His catalogs and books are collector items. One of his catalogs, number 15, is reproduced in this ebook. Catalogs help collectors identify and date pieces in their collection. Reading through catalogs is for me an exercise in creativity. When I read an effect description I try to think of a method to achieve it, not knowing the secret behind the trick sold. I am sure you will enjoy browsing through this beautiful catalog with lots of illustrations.

1st edition 1913, 216 pages.

I believe this is the largest magic catalog ever published. It clocks in at more than 620 pages and is bursting full with products. A unique lovely feature of this catalog is that each section is introduced by a famous magician: Mentalism by David Berglas, Ropes by Pavel, Comedy by Karrel Fox etc.

• Introduction (Paul Daniels)
• Accessories (Keith Churcher)
• Balloon Modeling (Bob Wooding)
• Books and Publications (Edwin A. Dawes)
• Canes and Candles (Jeff Atkins)
• Cards (Francis Haxton)
• Changing Bags and Egg Bags (Mark Raffles)
• Children's Magic (Terry Herbert)
• Close-Up Magic (Bobby Bernard)
• Comedy Magic (Karrell Fox)
• Escapology (David De-Val) ...

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.

The "Magic Ink" line of book catalogs.

Excerpt from the introduction:

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.

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.

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.

Now included is the 8-page yellow supplement.

Just 15 years after WWII, life was good. As the world rebuilt itself, prosperity reigned. Returning soldiers who needed an outlet to keep their competitive edge found what they were looking for in gambling. Neighborhood poker games, back-alley craps,...

A massive catalog featuring magic tricks in all categories from balls and birds to cards and coins and wands and watches.

1st edition 1976, 516 pages.

A massive catalog featuring magic tricks in all categories from balls and birds to cards and coins and wands and watches.

1st edition 1993, 575 pages.

Magic products are being offered in the following categories:

• Accessories
• Advertising
• Ball Section
• Bird Cages
• Block Tricks
• Books
• Bottle Tricks
• Candle Tricks
• Cane Tricks
• Card Magic
• Change Bags
• Cigarette Tricks
• Close-Up, Pocket and Intimate Magic
• Coin and Money Magic
• Comedy Effects
• Cups and Balls
• Dice Magic
• Egg Tricks
• Escapes
• Flower Magic
• Glasses
• Illusions
• Kid-Show Magic
• Light Bulbs
• Linking Rings
• Liquid Magic
• Livestock Tricks
• Mental Effects
• Milk Tricks
• Miscellaneous
• Paper Magic
• Production Magic
• Rice Bowls
• Rope Tricks
• Silk Magic
• Spook Material
• Tables
• Thimbles ...

After the index in the back is a section of 14 pages with additional products. This means it is likely that Abbott catalog #18 is pretty much identical to Abbott catalog #17 except for this final section of products.

Magic products are being offered in the following categories:

• Accessories
• Advertising
• Ball Section
• Bird Cages
• Block Tricks
• Books
• Bottle Tricks
• Candle Tricks
• Cane Tricks
• Card Magic
• Change Bags
• Cigarette Tricks
• Close-Up, Pocket and Intimate Magic
• Coin and Money Magic
• Comedy Effects
• Cups and Balls
• Dice Magic
• Egg Tricks
• Escapes
• Flower Magic
• Glasses
• Illusions
• Kid-Show Magic ...

This catalog includes a price list.

1st edition 1987, 516 pages.

A huge catalog including index and price list.

1st edition 1997, 525 pages.

Arthur P. Felsman took over August Roterberg's business. His catalog looks very similar to the Roterberg catalog with beautiful illustrations and detailed product descriptions. Compare for example with Roterberg Catalog No. 15.

1st edition 1919, 189 pages.

A long list of unbelievable variety, depth and breadth of magic tricks, illusions, apparatus, accessories and more. So much in fact that this catalog required three parts.

1st edition 1966, 432 pages.

The latest big catalog from Abbott Magic.

1st edition 2004, 472 pages.

This catalog has four color plates in the middle and a price list at the very end.

• Accessories
• Canes and Candles
• Cards
• Changing Bags and Egg Bags
• Children's Magic
• Close-Up Magic
• Comedy Magic
• Escapology
• Flowers and Plumes
• General Magic
• Illusionettes
• Liquid Magic
• Livestock Magic
• Manipulation
• Mentalism
• Money Magic
• Production Items
• Puppets and Ventriloquial Characters
• Rope Magic
• Silks and Ribbons

1st edition 1989, 613 pages.