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Jaybe New user 6 Posts |
So I go into the used bookstore here in town and what do I see on the shelf marked "Rare Books"? Stewart James's The James File. I thought, "Jackpot...I found a rare treasure and its going to be an absolute steal of a price" Was I wrong! The price tag was $500 (Canadian) dollars. I was so disappointed.
Anyone else had this kind of experience? |
Poof-Daddy Inner circle Considering Stopping At Exactly 5313 Posts |
Yes. Absolutely. It is very common for these used and/or second-hand bookshops to research a book before pricing it.
Cancer Sux - It is time to find a Cure
Don't spend so much time trying not to die that you forget how to live - H's wife to H on CSI Miami (paraphrased). |
Indistinguishable New user 49 Posts |
That's the good and the bad of the internet.
The good is that basically every book that's for sale is findable. The bad is that the price is the global price - with fewer bargains. |
ekins Special user Portland, Oregon 513 Posts |
And the prices can be crazy if they base their pricing off of what they see on Amazon.
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Rachmaninov Inner circle 1076 Posts |
I have those books but they are so intimidating that I have never opened them. I never hear magicians speaking of those books. Maybe I’m not alone…
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Mr. Bones Veteran user 317 Posts |
That's because most folks who own the books have long been smart enough to keep quiet about them
It's unimportant now though, owners can speak freely - as all three volumes are out of print, and likely never to be re-printed (although used sets pop up now and then, at appropriately high prices). The sheer scope, and utter brilliance of the contents are a testament to Stewart James as magics greatest thinker. Many thousands of pages of Stewarts genius, and dozens of tricks that it's likely only Stewart has ever performed. $500.00 for The James File in 2018 is a bargain!
Mr. Bones
"Hey Rube"! |
Mr. Bones Veteran user 317 Posts |
On the other hand, if one were to look around for a bargain:
http://www.quickerthantheeye.com/p/coins......mes-file ...one just might find one.
Mr. Bones
"Hey Rube"! |
Poof-Daddy Inner circle Considering Stopping At Exactly 5313 Posts |
Quote:
On May 8, 2018, Rachmaninov wrote: Go to "Advanced" on the Café search and type "james file" in the keyword space and "vlad_77" in the username spot (Both without the " "'s) then scroll down to "begin search" and you will get almost 3 full pages of hits where Vlad references or talks about / lists this set. If you do not know Vlad, He is a walking encyclopedia of book knowledge when it comes to card / magic in general books. He worked at a shop in Pittsburgh many years ago and had a shop in State College for a while but now lives overseas with too many books to ever come back to the US (financially) Shipping the books to the US would probably cost him more than I make in a full year. He is a great guy and openly shares his vast knowledge when references or topics on a certain book (Or set of books). magicfish also has a vast knowledge of book references (although I do not know him personally like I do Vlad). It would be worth your while to maybe reach out via PM to one or both to get a little info / inspiration to open these up and get some use out of them. It would be a shame for them to just sit on a shelf unopened as they become harder and harder to find anymore. Plus, if you decided to sell them, you would likely regret letting the set go a short time after. There is a ton of great magic in that set. I truly hope this diminishes some of the intimidation you feel. Go for it, it will truly be worth the time you put into it.
Cancer Sux - It is time to find a Cure
Don't spend so much time trying not to die that you forget how to live - H's wife to H on CSI Miami (paraphrased). |
Tim Cavendish Inner circle 1404 Posts |
See also this thread on great items in the Stewart James books at the Genii forum:
https://forums.geniimagazine.com/viewtopic.php?t=48263 The publisher even acknowledges that these giant books can be overwhelming. Hence the existence of The Essential Stewart James, which presents the 50 best effects (as voted by top magicians who've studied James) from the huge James books. This book is still in print and inexpensive: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic/......t-james/ |
Vlad_77 Inner circle The Netherlands 5829 Posts |
Wow Poof-Daddy, thank you for your very kind words!
To Jaybe if he is still here (original poster - is that like being an OG "original gangster? ), Yes these hernia inducing black tomes look intimidating. And as mentioned by Mr. Bones in an earlier post, the sheer scope and brilliance of these books is breathtaking. I've always been more than a little upset that James's name is rarely if ever mentioned in the same breath as Vernon and Marlo. To anyone who owns these books and have yet to dive in, I really urge you to take the plunge. James is one of our art's true masters - along with Vernon and Marlo. Of that "holy trinity" it seems that James gets the least press. Unless I am terribly wrong, these books will never be published again. I am unsure why one would be disappointed at a 500 dollar price tag. I hasten to add that I am poor as dirt but knowing what's in these books, I would rob a bank or take the Queen of the Netherlands hostage. (She's quite hot, so, it would be an extended hostage situation). Thanks go to Tim for providing that link to the Genii forum! Check it out folks and as Tim states, the less intimidating "The Essential Stewart James" is still in print. Best, "Vlad" |
fogelka New user 45 Posts |
I, too, was initially intimidated. But when I did jump in, I couldn't stop. I tend to try most of the effects in any book I purchase. That's because I have found that if the description doesn't really grab my interest, but I try the effect anyway, I see the real value.
Unbelievably even to myself, I ended up trying every last effect in the James Files. It sounds crazy, but it went a lot faster than you might expect. It became a just-before-bed treat to do a few effects each night. The reason I think this work pulled me in so powerfully, is that the material seemed to be in an alternate magic world. It just felt like I was working with something unique and different from the stuff I normally worked on. |
Mr. Bones Veteran user 317 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 25, 2018, fogelka wrote: Based on the friends that sat around the table with James when he created most of the material in The James File ... your statement may bet truer than you know - "alternate magic world" and the folks who live in that world indeed.
Mr. Bones
"Hey Rube"! |
Rachmaninov Inner circle 1076 Posts |
Thanks poof daddy. I have so much to read and study that I usually go for what attracts me the most in my library. And it has never been those huge tomes !
Thanks for the reference. I like to know what is remarkable to others in books I’m reading. |
magidave New user Omaha, Nebraska 71 Posts |
Where in the volumes of his published material does Stewart James speak of his 21 Thought Starters or address any of his creative process??? Thanks. Dave
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Tim Cavendish Inner circle 1404 Posts |
See here:
http://stewartjames.magicana.com/CS_21_1.html ...which points to Stewart James In Print, p. 990. |
magidave New user Omaha, Nebraska 71 Posts |
Thank you.
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Tim Cavendish Inner circle 1404 Posts |
Subsequent webpages go on to cite other pages in SJ in Print as well.
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magidave New user Omaha, Nebraska 71 Posts |
Thanks again Tim for following up on this.
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dismany New user 52 Posts |
Quote:
On May 8, 2018, Mr. Bones wrote: Well oh boy am I excited cos it's 2022 and I just paid 200 for vol 1 & 2... No no index but still! Made an offer on eBay and was shocked they accepted, but times have been rough through this whole demic thing. |
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