Which books do you consider to be genuine classics of magic? I'm looking for a list roughly about 10 books long. I'm talking about books that changed magic--such as the Hoffmann books(modern magic, later magic), the Art of Magic, RRTCM, ect. I want to add all classics to my collection, that is why I want your opinion. Thanks (obviously, in my opinion The Art of...(Harris) is also a classic.

A modern classic is Card College.

For coins, Bobo.

For illusions, probably Steinmyer books (I haven't read any so am going on reputation).

--Rick

Here's a few that made a huge impact on magic at the time.
Stars of Magic
The Dai Vernon Book Of Magic
Greater Magic

A few more -
Mark Wilsons book
The Tarbell course books
David Roths Expert Coin Magic
Magic and Showmanship - Nelms

And some more -
Expert at the card table
Expert card technique
Sleight of hand - Sachs
all are available as cheap Dover reprints although expanded versions of Expert are better.

Andrew Galloways trilogy on John Ramsay. Not sure of these but they have original versions of many classics and basic theories of misdirection.
Everything is worth performing.

Royal road
expert card technique
bobo's coin magic
stars of magic

All of the above. May I add my one of my favourites,
13 Steps to Mentalism - Corinda

What I consider as classics in no particular order;
1 - Greater Magic
2 - Tarbell Course
3 - Practical Mental Effects - Annemann
4 - Encyclopedia of Silk Magic ( 3 Vols. )- Rice
5 - Coin Magic - Bobo
6 - Royal Road to Card Magic
7 - Magic of Slydini
8 - Slydini Encores
9 - Modern Magic
10- Dai Vernon Book of Magic
11 - Expert at the Card Table
Of course any book on magic is great to have. I am sure you will get differing opinions on the classics though.
Rennie

-Greater Magic (Hilliard) Probably still the most important single volume in magic
-The Hoffman books
-The Fitzkee Trilogy
-The Inner Card Secrets Trilogy (Vernon/Ganson)
-The Art of Magic (Downs/Hilliard)
-The Tarbell Course
-Stars of Magic
-Dai Vernon Book of Magic
-Expert at the Card Table (Erdnase)
-Magic and Showmanship (Nelms)
-The New Modern Coin Magic (Bobo)
-Royal Road to Card Magic & Expert card Technique (Hugard/Braue)
-Anneman: Life and Times of a Legend
-Marlo's Revolutionary Card Technique
-Secret Ways of Al Baker
-Stewart James Trilogy
-Corinda's 13 Steps
-Rice's Encyclopedia of Silk Magic
-Clark's Encyclopedia of Cigarette Magic
-Classic Secrets of Magic (Elliott)
-Routined Manipulation Trilogy (Ganson)
-Magic Without Apparatus (Gaultier)
-Fine Art of Magic (George Kaplan)
-Professional Presentations (Koran)
-Our Magic (Maskelyne and Devant) A close second to Greater Magic, and too often overlooked
-Magic of Faucett Ross - One of the best and most underrated books ever!
-Ramsay Books
-Slydini books
-Tamariz books
-Mind, Myth and Magic (Waters)
-Books of Wonder
-Stunners (Larry Becker)
-Arthur Buckley Trilogy
-Strong Magic (Darwin Ortiz)
-Expert Coin Magic (Roth)
-Card College (Giobbi)

Certainly more than 10 volumes, but this is my "5-foot shelf." If you never bought another book after getting all the ones on this list, you would still have more material than you could ever use. But more importantly, you would be grounded in every area of magic: Cards, coins, close-up, manipulation, patlor/cabaret, platform/stage, mentalism, comedy magic, dramatic magic, kidshow magic, theory, presentation, blocking, scripting and creativity. You would have the thinking of the all-time greats as well as the current gurus. You'd be grounded in the old school as well as the avante-garde. And you'd have just a ton of excellent material and the info on how to adapt it to yourself and perform and present it most effectively!

Thar's gold in them thar books!

I would add "The classic magic of Larry Jennings", "The complete works of Derek Dingle" and "Workers" vol.1-5 of Michael Close.

Greater Magic - John Northern Hilliard
Revolutionary Card Technique - Ed Marlo
New Modern Coin Magic - J.B. Bobo
Stars of Magic
Expert Card Technique - Hugard & Braue
The Royal Road To Card Magic - Hugard & Braue
Dai Vernon Book Of Magic - Lewis Ganson
Dai Vernon's Inner Card Trilogy - Lewis Ganson
The Magic Of Slydini - Lewis Ganson
The Secrets Of Brother John Hamman - Richard Kaufman

Man,I dream every night of owning Greater Magic-It's quite hard to find.I'm looking for the 1400pp version.Does anyone have an unwanted copy(yeah,right)?
I have most of the mentioned books,but I would like to thank all of you for your contributions.
Thanks
Andre
ajcombri@telkomsa.net

Magic Books By Post have a copy of Greater Magic, reprinted by Kaufman & Greenberg that runs on 1330 pages.
Click Here!
The cost is £63.75, which is equal to about $106.00

Peo

Thanks very much Peo Olsson.I will be buying this book from them,come the end of the month.
Andre
ajcombri@telkomsa.net

"Classics" would include Greater Magic, The Fitzgee Trilogy, Erdnase at the Card Table and Royal Road to Card Magic, Modern Coin Magic and, of course, Expert Card Technique.

Modern Classics, on the other hand, would be Card College, Modern Coin Magic (still on), Coin Magic, Art of Astonishment, Complete Works of Derek Dingle, Darwin Ortiz at the Card Table, Complete Cups and Balls, Smoke and Mirrors and The Classic Magic of Larry Jennings. Also, possibly, Carney's Secrets of Magic. Enjoy.

Books that have CHANGED MAGIC?

and a short list at that... okay... here is a short list though it has a focus on parlor and closeup magic

Discoverie of Witchcraft
Robert Houdin's book
Downs 'Art of Magic'
Greater Magic
Hofzinser's book
'Stars of Magic'
Robert Harbin's Book
The Tarbell Course
Modern Coin Magic
Supermagic by Paul Harris -> AoA
*The Ramsay Legend (even if only for the misdirection work)
Expert Coin Magic

I am constantly amazed and the number of times the Amateur Magician's Handbook is overlooked. It is a foundation of magic in many areas and if all you had was that, you would have a lot.

It maybe that it is most recently available in paperback, but don't let that disuade you. Pick one up and read it and see if you don't agree. It should be the first magic book for any student and then once you are all good and knowledgeable you should read it again.

Kirk Grodske

Ed Marlo's revolutionary card technique. one of the best and definatley, larry beckers stunners plus!

Kirk I do have that book and agree that it should be in anyones collection.I love books with lots of sleights instead of gimmicks,this book also does it for me.
Andre
ajcombri@telkomsa.net