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Magic: 1400s–1950s
Magic has enchanted humankind for millennia, evoking terror, laughter, shock, and amazement. Once persecuted as heretics and sorcerers, magicians have always been conduits to a parallel universe of limitless possibility – whether invoking spirits, reading minds, or inverting the laws of nature by sleight of hand. Long before science fiction, virtual realities, video games and the internet, the craft of magic was the most powerful fantasy world man had ever known. As the pioneers of special effects throughout history, magicians have never ceased to mystify us by making the impossible possible.
This book celebrates more than 500 years of the dazzling visual culture of the world’s greatest magicians. Featuring over 1,000 rarely seen vintage posters, photographs, handbills, and engravings in one 650-page volume, it traces the history of magic as a performing art from the 1400s to the 1950s. Combining sensational images with lucid and incisive text, Magic explores the evolution of the magician’s craft, from medieval street performers to the brilliant stage magicians who gave rise to cinematic special effects; from the 19th century's Golden Age of Magic to groundbreaking daredevils like Houdini and the early 20th century's vaudevillians.
This book celebrates more than 500 years of the dazzling visual culture of the world’s greatest magicians. Featuring over 1,000 rarely seen vintage posters, photographs, handbills, and engravings in one 650-page volume, it traces the history of magic as a performing art from the 1400s to the 1950s. Combining sensational images with lucid and incisive text, Magic explores the evolution of the magician’s craft, from medieval street performers to the brilliant stage magicians who gave rise to cinematic special effects; from the 19th century's Golden Age of Magic to groundbreaking daredevils like Houdini and the early 20th century's vaudevillians.
637 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
17 people are currently reading
671 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 19, 2019
If you are into Magic and its history,then this is a fabulous book.The book is worth it for the beautiful posters feature in the book.No computer could ever make posters as beautiful as these were. This purchase was purely selfish.My Grandparents were magicians and my Grandfather worked for Howard Thurston and also partnered with Tampa. the late 1800's thru the 1960's was a great time for magic and magicians! This is really a great treasury of magic and its stars.I bought this on clearance for $19.99 at the big bookstore,it is a coffee table book and worth every penny.
August 8, 2019
This is a standard size version of book originally published in a larger, coffee table format. It has incredibly fine print which is tiring to read, its not a reading sort of book. You won't learn any magic tricks from this book. The print is so fine I knocked off a star.
But it is packed wall to wall with illustrations and photos showing handbills, posters, paraphernalia and live shows, a visual history of the magic show. It's printed on a very heavy clay stock with high resolution, I cannot see the screening dots, the colors are lush and the photos exquisite. This puppy weighs more than four pounds! The original may have given me a hernia.
A lovely coffee table book for the magic nerd in your life, you may want to find a copy of the larger original, though I suspect shipping might be a bit dear.
But it is packed wall to wall with illustrations and photos showing handbills, posters, paraphernalia and live shows, a visual history of the magic show. It's printed on a very heavy clay stock with high resolution, I cannot see the screening dots, the colors are lush and the photos exquisite. This puppy weighs more than four pounds! The original may have given me a hernia.
A lovely coffee table book for the magic nerd in your life, you may want to find a copy of the larger original, though I suspect shipping might be a bit dear.
March 3, 2024
A stunning and absolutely enormous book full of gorgeous (and disturbing) posters of illusions and illusionists.
September 9, 2015
If I could give this book ten stars I would, so wonderful this collection of magic related material is. This isn't a small book, it's one of the over sized Taschen books and when I say over sized, I'm not kidding around--it's massive! Which only adds to the books appeal, as the full-color lithographs collected in this are mind-blowing and gorgeous as the complete history of magic is given loving treatment. The posters and photographs are the stars of Magic: 1400s-1950s, with short histories on different eras of magic. Virtually every magician who ever made a name for themselves is in this book. This is a jaw-dropper.
July 9, 2017
3 stars for the essays, 4.5 stars for the presentation of the posters and photographs.
October 8, 2017
I'm a visual creature by nature which isn't something particularly singular I admit. Were I to rate the book solely for it's ability to make me eyegasm at every page it would get plenty of awards, but geez did it make me angry, frustrated and delighted at turns the further I skimmed.
Let's take those chapter pages for example: the book designer did an incredible job choosing beautiful vintage patterns and design elements for those.
The images in this book depict adverts and illustrations from the world of magic from various artists (1400-1950s), but keep in mind that it's basically a hefty and fucking huge doorstopper of a book weighing several kgs and depicting 99.9% white dudes, so not a lot of research was put into including non-white/caucasian countries. And that brings me to the crux of the review: lack of diversity from the publisher.
Kind of a missed opportunity right there and a smidge irritating, but I should not have been surprised that it's missing. Okay, I lie. Not a smidge.
It's not like "Taschen" is an exception as a publisher and I am sure they weren't even aware of excluding non-white cultures (which kind of makes this worse, actually), but sometimes ignorance is not enough of an excuse. So, no: Fuck this! I know my voice will probaby not make any ripples, but now my thoughts are out there and I won't give you 5 stars, though I'd really like to.
Furthermore, you'll see plenty of images with white dudes wearing "yellowface" and it fucking rips your heart out because Westerners had never stepped onto 'faraway' lands and these performances were supposed to give them a taste of that complete with colourful oriental rugs, embroidered robes, scented candles and whatnot. But again, other cultures are not to be found inside those same pages, including China.
For all my raging complaints, it is what it is and taking it at face value it's eyegasm for any reader giving them a thrilling snapshot in time.
Let's take those chapter pages for example: the book designer did an incredible job choosing beautiful vintage patterns and design elements for those.
The images in this book depict adverts and illustrations from the world of magic from various artists (1400-1950s), but keep in mind that it's basically a hefty and fucking huge doorstopper of a book weighing several kgs and depicting 99.9% white dudes, so not a lot of research was put into including non-white/caucasian countries. And that brings me to the crux of the review: lack of diversity from the publisher.
Kind of a missed opportunity right there and a smidge irritating, but I should not have been surprised that it's missing. Okay, I lie. Not a smidge.
It's not like "Taschen" is an exception as a publisher and I am sure they weren't even aware of excluding non-white cultures (which kind of makes this worse, actually), but sometimes ignorance is not enough of an excuse. So, no: Fuck this! I know my voice will probaby not make any ripples, but now my thoughts are out there and I won't give you 5 stars, though I'd really like to.
Furthermore, you'll see plenty of images with white dudes wearing "yellowface" and it fucking rips your heart out because Westerners had never stepped onto 'faraway' lands and these performances were supposed to give them a taste of that complete with colourful oriental rugs, embroidered robes, scented candles and whatnot. But again, other cultures are not to be found inside those same pages, including China.
For all my raging complaints, it is what it is and taking it at face value it's eyegasm for any reader giving them a thrilling snapshot in time.
April 7, 2018
A great history of the stage magician's craft, covering the major names (with particular focus on the golden age of the early 20th century — Houdini gets his own chapter), the famous tricks (sawing a lady in half, mind-reading, levitation and the once definitive "cup and balls" stunt) and the changes in magic as they adapt to new venues such as music halls, vaudeville, movies and TV. Beautifully illustrated with photos and posters.
June 1, 2020
Un libro al que se podrían dedicar horas y horas para apreciar todos sus detalles. Repleto de fotografías, carteles publicitarios, anuncios... ofrece un viaje por la historia de la magia y sus distintas manifestaciones. En definitiva, un libro para leer con calma y deteniéndose en todos los dibujos que ofrece, en una edición cuidadísima como todas las de Taschen.
September 5, 2017
A fascinating history of magic in the theater augmented by illustrations and photographs. The book itself looks like a magic book. Definitely recommend!
July 22, 2018
A look into the different aspects of magic. This is an intriguing journey into magic and all it entails, a few of those ideas may surprise readers.
December 6, 2024
The text can be a little thin on the ground, but that's not why you read this book - the posters and photos transport the reader to the various eras of stage Magic. This book is a feast for the eyes.
August 19, 2025
A lot of famous magicians disappear into obscurity. Famous names you never heard of before. The book made them magically reappear. A wonderful, colorful vintage poster and tricks.
September 21, 2019
Visually, this book is a thing of beauty. The amount of care that went into collecting and displaying the playbills is astounding, and the book even includes an attached ribbon bookmark to mark your journey through this book that has to be moved through slowly.
Although those looking for details about women in magic will be pleased to see a dozen or so women mentioned, they'll be disappointed to find that at times female magicians are described as performing tricks made famous by x, y, and z male magicians while male magicians with similarly derivative acts are described as building on the traditions of x, y, and z or taking on the mantle of x, y, and z. To be fair, the book stops its history at roughly the mid twentieth century, so there weren't a ton of women to talk about, but a little more care to the careers of those woman who were involved would have been appreciated.
Although those looking for details about women in magic will be pleased to see a dozen or so women mentioned, they'll be disappointed to find that at times female magicians are described as performing tricks made famous by x, y, and z male magicians while male magicians with similarly derivative acts are described as building on the traditions of x, y, and z or taking on the mantle of x, y, and z. To be fair, the book stops its history at roughly the mid twentieth century, so there weren't a ton of women to talk about, but a little more care to the careers of those woman who were involved would have been appreciated.
March 31, 2015
This is a wonderful history of magic and illusion through the centuries. A gloriously illustrated and beautifully written coffee table book – this is no light reading but its stature is matched by its engagement – I defy anyone with an interest in entertainment not to enjoy it.
From some of the most famous characters in the illusion business, to many of the more obscure performers, this book has the lot and is an absolute encyclopaedia of information – although written in an engaging and interesting style missing from many such works.
Immerse yourself in this and revel in the sheer inventiveness of creativity.
Absolutely delicious reading.
From some of the most famous characters in the illusion business, to many of the more obscure performers, this book has the lot and is an absolute encyclopaedia of information – although written in an engaging and interesting style missing from many such works.
Immerse yourself in this and revel in the sheer inventiveness of creativity.
Absolutely delicious reading.
October 3, 2016
A glorious, huge, hefty, large format volume detailing the history of stage magic and its performers from the 1400s to the 1950s.
It has some great essays in there, but the real meat and value of this enormous book is the sheer quantity of fantastic illustrations. These range from photographs of magicians at work to the glorious, gorgeous posters they had produced to advertise their performances.
A colourful, inspiring and fascinating volume.
It has some great essays in there, but the real meat and value of this enormous book is the sheer quantity of fantastic illustrations. These range from photographs of magicians at work to the glorious, gorgeous posters they had produced to advertise their performances.
A colourful, inspiring and fascinating volume.
July 14, 2014
Not a book to read in bed: you won't be able to hold it up long enough. Beautiful to look at and well worth the money.
January 13, 2017
great read and awesome book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews