From the files of Egyptian Hall Museum, Mike Caveney has selected letters of historical importance. Sometimes the writer or recipient (or both) are well-known names while other times the players are totally unknown, but every letter sheds new light on a shadowy corner of magic's fascinating history.
After placing each letter in context Mike provides additional information about the people, places, tricks, theaters and everything else that might be mentioned, illustrating it with rare memorabilia from his collection. It's like being taken on a guided tour through the historical files of Egyptian Hall Museum by the curator.
All these letters have been collected into (so far) 4 beautiful books printed in full-color with additional annotations, previously-unseen photographs, posters, and other rare memorabilia. It's the perfect gift for anyone who loves the art of magic.
Here are just a few of the magical celebrities that you will meet: Samri S. Baldwin, Charles Carter, Carl Hertz, Will Goldston, Howard Thurston, Houdini, Nate Leipzig, Felix Herrmann, Harry Blackstone, Will Nicola, Adelaide Herrmann, Silent Mora, MacDonald Birch, Chefalo, Cecil Lyle, John Mulholland, Neil Foster, Jane Thurston, Senator Crandall, Lewis Ganson, George Boston, H. Adrian Smith, Ira Davenport, Okito, Francis Martinka, Milbourne Christopher, Carl Rosini, Harry Kellar, Stan Laurel, T. Nelson Downs, Julius Zancig, Frederick Eugene Powell, Virgil, The Great Leon, The Great Raymond, Dante, P.T. Selbit, Faucett Ross, John Carney – and many others.
Vol. 1:
288 pages, 6 by 9 inches, fully indexed, with beautiful full-color endsheets. Published in 2010.
Vol. 2:
378 pages, 6 x 9 inches, entire book printed in full color. Published in 2014.
Vol. 3:
411 pages, 6 x 9 inches, entire book printed in full color. Published in 2016.
Vol. 4:
394 pages printed in full color on heavy art matte paper, 323 photographs. Published in 2021.
