The encyclopedia of stage illusions

About this book

A friend and I found this book and purchased it from a dealer in Ohio, in the mid 1960s, if indeed this is the same book. It was mimeographed on rather cheap paper, punched for a three ring binder, and sold in a three ring binder that was closed by a zipper and the zipper was secured by a small padlock. It was to be a "locked book," and Hull said in his introduction that it was to be intended for use only by performing magicians and that he wanted it kept out of the hands of, as he said, "the petty dabbler in pocket tricks," I believe this to be a pretty exact quote. He seemed to rail on about those who might want to purchase it just to put on their book shelves and to let folks know that they knew all the secrets about "this magic stuff." Again I may be paraphrasing, but this was the tenor of his remarks. It is a fascinating book, and many interesting and unusual illusions may be found in it. I enjoyed it immensely. I have not checked, but suppose it might be available (used copies) by a search on the internet. I was not aware that there was a 1960 edition. Again, i am assuming it to be the same book, as I hae not seen the 1960 one mentioned here.