Who has the biggest book collection on Earth?Does anyone know?

This is only a guess but Micky Hades has one heck of a collection.

It is so big, that his repeat books are for sale on the internet and it fills many, many pages.

For Escapology, Stephen Forrester has everthing written on the subject.

What about the Mulholland collection? I think Copperfield bought it. What about the Milbourne Christopher collection? Hades is simply a dealer with a big inventory, no?

He has a library. The ones that are for sale are extra copies of books that he already has.

He also has a line of new books as well.

True, I did not take the two others into consideration. I'd guess that Hades comes in third.

I believe DC has the largest collection, especially rare books, I heard.

While DC may have largest overall magic collection out there, I think the Library of Byron Walker is the largest privately held collection of magic books.

Ditto for Byron Walkers collection, I was at his house and every space in his house has books, there is actually very little living space. When I saw his collection, all I could do was drool. On top of that, Byron is a super guy and VERY knowledgeable on books.

I think Uncle Jay does. The deal between he and Bob Lund was who ever died first, the other gets the collection. If you've ever been to Magic Inc [especially in the old days, I remember] Books stacked tall everywhere, storage room, up the stairs to the upstairs apt, and in the apt as well,. Uncle Jay loves books, buys them and reads every one of them. I don't know about now. I'd say he's got a really large collection. For someone who has a library, it would be a good idea for them to read each book, especially if it's large. What would be the point of having one if you hadn't?

Jay Marshall has a huge collection of books on everything that interests him ... and everything does ... and he knows what's in all of them.

I once asked him if he had a first edition of a certain magic book. He said, "I think so," and disappeared into a back, back room. He returned with the original, hand-written manuscript.

Some years ago I was researching a script about Riverview, an old (and long closed) Chicago amusement park. I had access to the Chicago Tribune morgue and the Chicago Historical Society. Neither one had what I needed. Jay did and it took him about three minutes to lay his hands on it.

Sid

when you were researching Riverview did you talk with Marshall Brodien?

The H. Adrian Smith Collection at Brown University is one of the biggest collections. I'm not sure if it's THE biggest, but I'm sure it's up there in the top 5...

The Magic Circle, London, has an extensive collection including an original 'Scots Discoverie of Witchcraft' The first ever book written on magic published in 1584

I don't know where it ranks, but Ken Klosterman has a healthy collection, not to mention one of the finest collections of antique magic and memoribilia on the planet.

Steve

I think David Copperfield.

I read somewhere that Jay Marshall sold his collection to David Copperfield.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Probably the Library Of Congress.
Iven

The big magic book collection of the late Jack Avis, England was very impressive with over 1200 books plus a collection of private correspondence with Ed Marlo, Dai Vernon and Stewart James.

Contact John Derris if you are interested in this collection:
europro@tiscali.co.uk