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DavidKenney Inner circle 2178 Posts |
Ok, so I have begun collecting the 8 Tarbell Course in Magic books. But I have a lot of questions, most of which have to do with the various editions and the two publishers.
I am collecting the books from ebay. Which I have noticed that- Used books on ebay - are the same price as NEW books from Penguin. I think this has to do with owning an "older book" not necessarily a "better book" but these are my questions.... My first book is published from Robbins it is a 15th printing from 1999 My second book is also published from Robbins and it is a 12th printing from 2003 But my latest book 3 is a Tannen publishing fourth printing from 1971 The 2 Robbins books are tall and thin, and the Tannen is short and stocky. But book 1 has a "It's a privileged" section at the beginning that talks about "this new edition" with more tricks than the previous editions?.... 1. Are the Robbins books "the same" as the Tannen books? 2. Do the Robbins books have more in them since they are newer editions? Have they been re-edited? Re-formatted? 3. Should I get a full set of Robbins, or is it ok to mix and match? I didn't know this was a "thing" so I didn't know to look for it when I was purchasing the books. THANKS for any help you can offer. |
Tim Cavendish Inner circle 1404 Posts |
Before it was a set of books, the Tarbell Course In Magic was a subscription-based mail-order course. Each lesson came separately in the mail. That's what Book 1 is talking about with "this new edition" -- the difference between the books and the original course.
The Tannen and Robbins editions have exactly the same content. The Robbins editions might have slightly thinner paper, and their photographs may have slightly less definition, but the tricks are illustrated with line drawings, so there's no functional difference there. Vol 8 is not as plentiful, since it was published much later then the rest. Vol 8 was published after Tannen sold to Robbins, so it only exists in a Robbins edition. Cost-wise, your best bet would likely be to save up your money and buy a full used set on eBay. If you're patient, you should be able to land a full 1-8 set for about $120. Or you might be lucky and find a set of 1-6 or 1-7 for a song, then buy vol 8 as a singleton. Happy hunting! |
DavidKenney Inner circle 2178 Posts |
Thanks Tim - that makes me feel better. I chose ebay so that I could "create" a set that had never been a set before. Find orphaned books that were never a part of a set and bring them all together. I'm weird that way. But now I feel better about my Tannen edition. THANKS !!!!
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
David...COLLECTORS want a matched set with dust jackets in pristine condition, preferably a "presentation copy", autographed by the author (ETC!) Collectors would never think of using a fried egg for a bookmark!
I've owned, over the years, two different sets of the original mail order correspondence course, and, now have a Tannen set (5 autographed presentation copies, by Tarbell, and #6 autographed by the "red haired magic dealer" Lou Tannen (courtesy of the late Jay Marshall). I must send (as soon as I can save up enough for the postage)my #7 to (darn, I've forgotten his name!!!) hee hee, --Oh yeah! Harry somebody-- for an autograph. I've been saving up my loose change to buy a #8, but with the current economy, I may never manage to do it. So! Regard your growing "assorted" collection of Doc's magnum opus, as an INVESTMENT! IT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS! Doc T was a naturopathic physician. He was a "lecture style" magician, booked by "celebrity" agents. He performed for the American Association of University Women, and, also, as a practicing nudist, for many nudist colonies along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. (Members of the Wizard Club would ask him, "Doc! Where do you pin your pull?" Anyone whose writings are still in print, a hundred years after publication, must have SOMETHING TO SAY! Skim through his patter, for the 'flavor', then, forget it. BUT, absorb the PRINCIPLES! Much of my professional act came directly, or indirectly, from Harlan Tarbell!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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DavidKenney Inner circle 2178 Posts |
"Collectors would never think of using a fried egg for a bookmark! "
???? I'm a collector, just a different kind of one. Just bought book 5, now I have 2 Tannen's and 2 Robbins. Maybe I will have a 50/50 set when Im done |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
I AM a COLLECTOR, too!
I collect $$$ for PERFORMING. I don't/didn't put the $$$ on a shelf to admire, and/or show it to my friends. I used that money to purchase basic needs. I invested some, also! --And, DID, since I was a teenager. I'm no longer a teenager. I'm a very senior citizen, retired from 50 years on the road, performing magic. --Much of it learned from Tarbell! The "fried egg/bookmark" was an attempt at a bit of humor, to keep the post from becoming boring. If you just put those mixed editions on a shelf to admire, you've wasted some money. Books on a shelf, are merely "potential" knowledge.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
Denny Haney's favorite line: "THAT"S in TARBELL!"
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