HILLIARD, J.N. (1872 – 1935). Greater Magic. Minneapolis: Carl Waring Jones, 1938. FIRST EDITION, first printing. Publisher’s red cloth, spine stamped in gilt. Illustrated by Harlan Tarbell. Thick 8vo. Lacks jacket, cloth rubbed, but good condition overall. A REMARKABLE AUTOGRAPH BOOK, kept by magician Charles Arbuthnot III, who used the pages of the work as an album of over 350 signatures of the contributors to this monumental work, as well as contemporary magicians of note, as well as lesser-known personalities, and non-magician celebrities as well.
Among the contributors whose autographs appear in the pages of the book are Percy Abbott, Ted Annemann (including a caption noting that the autograph was signed one month before his death), Al Baker, Harry Blackstone (twice, once with a caricature portrait), Arthur Buckley, Cardini (three times), Al Caroselli, Dr. Jacob Daley, Frakson, U.F. Grant, Max Holden, S. Leo Horowitz, Jean Hugard (several times), Ralph Hull, publisher Carl W. Jones, Stewart Judah (including a correction to one of his contributions), Laurant, LePaul, John Mulholland, Paul Rosini, Leo Rullman, John Scarne, Tarbell, and Dai Vernon (twice).
Other magicians and celebrities represented in the pages include Madam Pinxy, Robert Ripley, Harold Rice, John Snyder, Mickey MacDougall, John Ramsay, Les Levante, Will Rock, Think-a-Drink Hoffmann, Joe Ovette, Stewart James, McDonald Birch, Russ Walsh, Hary Cecil, Boris Zola, Gali Gali, John McArdle (including two self portraits in pencil, drawn simultaneously, mirroring each other), Margin Sunshine, L.L. Ireland, Theo Hardeen, Dave Coleman, Okito, Dante, Ted Huber (twice), New York Times cartoonist Abril Lamarque (with caricature), Walter Gibson, Bruce Elliott, Jack Gwynne (twice), Dr. Jaks, Ade Duval, George Marquis, Merv Taylor, and hundreds more. Several autographs have also been tipped-in or pasted in by the former owner.
Noted magic collector Burton Sperber (whose bookplate is on the rear pastedown) also collected many autographs on the rear endsheets, primarily of magicians from southern California and the various magic collectors he encountered, including Eddie Dawes, Mark Wilson, Larry Jennings, Ricky Jay (twice), Bruce Cervon, Cesareo Pelaez, Morris Young, Robert Albo, Chuck Fayne, Norm Nielsen, John Carney, Gary Kurtz, Billy McComb, Mel Stover, John Booth, Max Maven, and dozens more.
Many contributors have signed the book or added marginalia to accompany the entries bearing their names (including several sketches by Tarbell), and the “Card Stars” chapter features the autograph of EACH CONTRIBUTOR except Nate Leipzig, who died only ten months after the book was published. In good condition overall but lacking the original jacket, and with expected rubbing and thumb soiling. Sold together with a leather satchel used to carry and store the book, and a list of the autographs it contains.