Greater Magic became one of the foundational reference works of twentieth-century conjuring. John Northern Hilliard spent years gathering techniques, routines, and performance knowledge from prominent magicians while traveling with Howard Thurston’s show. Hilliard died unexpectedly in 1935 before completing the project, leaving Carl Waring Jones and magician-author Jean Hugard to organize, edit, and substantially complete the manuscript for publication.
The book is large: nearly one thousand pages devoted to card manipulation, marked and prepared cards, sleight of hand, coins, silks, ropes, mind reading, stage presentation, illusion work, and the history and personalities surrounding professional magic. The book was illustrated with more than eleven hundred drawings by Harlan Tarbell.
This copy is identified on the copyright page as the Third Impression, issued by Carl Waring Jones. The title page carries the statement that the book was “Privately Printed for Professional & Amateur Magicians,” reflecting a period when the secrets of conjuring were deliberately circulated within the magical community rather than marketed as ordinary entertainment.
Details
Origin: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Date: 1938
Edition: Third impression
Author: John Northern Hilliard
Editors: Carl W. Jones and Jean Hugard
Publisher: Carl Waring Jones
Binding: Original rust-red publisher’s cloth with gilt lettering
Contents: More than 990 numbered pages
Illustrations: Stated 1,111 illustrations by Harlan Tarbell
Features: Chapters on card magic, sleight of hand, prepared cards, coins, silks, balls, ropes, mind reading, stagecraft, illusion work, and historical performers
Condition: Good vintage condition. Moderate rubbing, handling wear, and fading to the cloth. Gilt remains legible and visually strong. Pages show expected age toning, with occasional light spotting or handling wear.Back spine joint has some tearing but is stable. Please review all photographs for the most accurate record of condition.
