Via an email from those extremely nice people over at The Derren Brown Blog, we’ve been told of a competition over at Why Do We Read to win a copy of the huge tome that is ‘Magic – 1400’s-1950’s’, and also have it signed by Derren Brown himself.
If you’ve read the magic press, you’ll know this book is really something special. Put together by Mike Caveney, Jim Steinmeyer and with contributes by Ricky Jay, it features more than 1,000 rarely seen vintage posters, photographs, handbills, and engravings as well as paintings by Hieronymus Bosch and Caravaggio among others, this 650-page volume traces the history of magic as a performing art from the 1400s to the 1950s, and also weighs in at an almighty 10lbs and measure 29cm by 44cm!!
Combining sensational images with incisive text, Magic explores the evolution of the magician’s craft, from medieval street performers to the brilliant stage magicians who gave rise to cinematic special effects; from the 19th century’s Golden Age of Magic to groundbreaking daredevils like Houdini and the early 20th century’s vaudevillians.
Check after the jump for details on how to enter, and some video of the book.
All you need to do is head over to the TASCHEN site here and select the LEAF THROUGH option on the right. Leaf through the MAGIC book until you find a bottle of Ether. Then drop an email to ‘Why We Read’ telling them exactly where you found it, along with the reason why you’re into books or magic (your choice but must be in less than 100 words).
The winner picked out of a hat will be announced on the 1 December via their blog. (don’t leave you entry comment here, as it wont be entered!)