Winter Magic Auction

HALL, Trevor. Archive of Letters from Trevor Hall to Jimmy Findlay. 1940s – 50s. Approximately 100 TLSs and ALSs from Hall to fellow magic collector Jimmy Findlay, regarding possible purchases by Hall from Findlay, primarily of antiquarian conjuring books (regarding a first edition of Scot’s Discoverie, he boasts, “I have had two of the original 1584 black letter editions through my hands, one of which is in absolutely perfect condition with wide margins and this was purchased from Quaritch for £50.”), and related subjects. Hall repeatedly discusses a proposed bibliography of Henry Dean’s Hocus Pocus, a project never completed; makes repeated attempts to purchase rare books from Findlay; discusses the origins of Sa Rid’s famed book on conjuring tricks; and other related subjects, though rarely discussing personal matters or performing magicians at all. Hall’s jealousy over Findlay’s acquisitions is evident throughout. Typed and handwritten on a variety of letterheads and plain sheets of various sizes, and neatly organized in a single three-ring album. A fascinating archive.