A Magical Library

 

Ricky Jay (again)

  I have written often about libraries and now this is the third time I will produce something about Ricky Jay. He is the author of Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women: A History of Unique, Eccentric & Amazing Entertainers. That should be enough to get your attention, but, if not, he is also the author of, Matthias Buchinger: The Greatest German Living. Mr. Jay passed away in 2018 and information about his passing and from his website is found here. 

  Apart from practicing magic and writing books, Jay collected them and also gathered all the magical memorabilia he could find. That is why he is again our subject. His lovely and very understanding wife is removing from their home some of the material he collected. There is enough stuff to warrant this article in the New York Times: "The Curious, Astounding Collection of the Magician Ricky Jay: Illusionists, Cardsharps, Charlatans and Human Cannonballs Enliven a Trove of Rare Books, Posters and Ephemera Now Going to Auction at Sotheby's," Dan Barry, Oct. 19. Apart from his legacy as a magician, he also left more than 10,000 rare books, posters, broadsides, handbills and ephemera, a vast collection that transformed his Beverly Hills home into a research library dedicated to the human desire to be fooled — to slip the cuffs of reality and believe, if only briefly, the unbelievable. He knew every item, could recite passages from ancient texts, and incorporated the material into his performances. His collection lived.

    

   When the folks from Sotheby's arrived at the Jay-Verges home, tucked into a hillside off Mulholland Drive, they were taken aback by the size and breadth of the idiosyncratic collection. 

 You will likely be taken aback as well when you view Sotheby's, The Ricky Jay Collection. You have about one week to make your bid for items such as this: Madam Yucca; The Female Hercules.

It is estimated to be sold for between $2000 -3000. If your budget is limited, you can sort the 600+ items from lowest to highest.