A quote from Jim Steinmeyer: "Of course, I'm biased about this subject. But I think that the history of magic is very important to understanding how magic works on stage. It has been of great value to me in my work and to my understanding of illusion. I've written that there are still only four "essential" books on stage illusion.

Hopkins' - Magic Stage Illlusions and Special Effects
Devant's - Secrets Of My Magic
Jarrett's - Jarrett Magic
Harbin's - Magic Of Robert Harbin

(I'm sorry that these books are in English. This is my bias.) I still feel that, if you can truly understand these books, you will know almost all there is to know about illusion. I still re-read and refer to these books over the course of the years."
end quote

Book List prepared by Zigmont

Device & Illusion - Jim Steinmeyer
Modern Art and Other Mysteries - Jim Steinmeyer
The Magic of Alan Wakeling - Jim Steinmeyer
Art & Artifice - Jim Steinmeyer
The Science Behind the Ghost Discovering Invisibility
Strange Power -
Reminding and Deceiving
The Jarrett Book - Guy Jarrett, Jim Steinmeyer
The Complete Jarrett - Guy Jarrett, Jim Steinmeyer
Howard Thurston's Illusion Show Notebook - Steinmeyer

The Black Book -Osborne
Haunted Illusions - Osborne
Illusion Systems I - Osborne
Illusion Systems II - Osborne
Illusion Systems III- Osborne
Illusion Systems IV - Osborne
Illusions (Evolution) - Osborne

Conjuror's Optical Secrets - Sharpe
Conjuror's Psychological Secrets- Sharpe
Conjuror's Pneumatic/Hydraulic Secrets- Sharpe
Conjuror's Mechanical Secrets- Sharpe
Encyclopedia of Suspensions & Levitations - Sharpe
Devant's Delightful Delusions - Sharpe

Illusionworks I - Rand Woodbury
Illusionworks II - Rand Woodbury
Illusionworks III - Rand Woodbury
Diversions - Rand Woodbury

The Great Illusion of Magic (2 -books) - Byron G. Wells

Illusion Builder To Fu Manchu - Robert Olson

Servais Le Roy - Monarch of Mystery - Mike Caveney and William Rauscher

Paragons and Paradoxes - Milian Forzetting

Keep the wheels Turning - Owen Magic Supreme

Owen Magic Supreme Catalog

Solo-X - A. Mayne
Illusion F/X - A. Mayne
Illusionbook - A. Mayne

Square One - Magic Magazine

Genii Illusions - Bill Larsen

Buatier de Kolta Genius of Illusion - Peter Warlock
P.T. Selbit A Magical Innovator - Eric Lewis & Peter Warlock

A choice Of Miracles - Eric Lewis
A continuation of Miracles - Eric Lewis

The World's Greatest Magician...
A Tribute to Howard Thurston - Robert Olson

The Tarbell Course In Magic - Harlan Tarbell

Mark Wilson Course In Magic - Mark Wilson

The Worlds Greatest Magic - Hyla Clark

The Encyclopedia Of Magic - Edwin A. Dawes

The Master Illusionists - Mark Walker

Our Magic - Nevil Maskellyne & David Devant

Conjuror's Book of Stage Illusions - Edward W. Dart

Illusionseseme - S.K.V. Kumar/Mickey Hades

Greater Magic - Hilliard

Magic Of Lee Grabel - O. Mcgill

The Magic of Robert Harbin - Robert Harbin
The Genius of Robert Harbin - Eric Lewis/Mike Caveney

Stage Illusions for 1-2-3 Performers Show - Burling Hull

Nite Club Illusions and Illusionettes - Abbotts

Tops Treasury of Illusions - Abbotts

The Art Of Illusion - Will Ayling

Magic By Misdirection - D. Fitzkee

Magic and Showmanship - Henning Nelms

Handbook Of Magic - Marvin Kaye

The Illustrated History Of Magic - Milboure Christopher

Magic (Great illusions) - 1923 David Charney

Magic (special f/x & trick photography) - 1898