Index - Stewart James in Print & The James File by William Goodwin

Toronto: Jogestja Ltd., 1989. First edition. Hardcover. pp. xxxi, 991. Heavy 4to. Black-&-white illustrations. Our copy shows insignificant shelf wear and is unmarked and save for a few faint spots on the foredge of the text block. The dust jacket is present and has light wear, mainly confined to rubbing at the folds and spine ends. James (1908-1996) was one of the world’s most prolific inventors of magic tricks and routines. Born in Canada, he was the author of ‘One More Thought on Cards’, the three volumes of ‘Abbott’s Encyclopedia of Rope Tricks’, and numerous articles. This copy of his catalogue raisonne was purchased by us from a prominent CBC Radio personality who, in turn, had been given it by the late national broadcaster Peter Gzowski. The book was given to Gzowski by James on the occasion of the former’s interview of the latter on his national radio program. James, who was quite elderly at the time, inscribed this copy ‘To Preter [sic] from Stewart’ and gave it to him after the interview concluded. It is a massive book describing in detail over 400 tricks and routines James published or marketed over a fifty-year span. Each trick is prefaced by a fascinating introduction.