House of Deception Library: J(ames) B. Findlay Titles
Author
Title
Publication Year
Publisher
Farelli, Victor; Findlay, James B.
Magical Bibliographies: A Guide
1953
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
Anderson and His Theatre
1967
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
Bookishly Yours
1987
Magicana for Collectors, York, PA
Findlay, J. B.
Charles Dickens and His Magic
1962
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
Conjurer's Coins and Medals
1964
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
Eighth Collector's Annual: International Guide to Posters and Playbills
1972
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
Fifth Collectors Annual
1953
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
First Collectors Annual
1949
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
Fourth Collectors Annual
1952
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
How's Your Library?
1958
Ireland Magic, Chicago
Findlay, J. B.
Juggling Through Four Reigns
1945
Mac's Mysteries, Glascow
Findlay, J. B.
Magic Coins of Czechoslovakia
1969
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
Ninth Collector's Annual: A Catalogue of Books on Conjuring and the Allied Arts in the J. B. Findlay Collection
1975
D. W. Findlay, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
Price One Penny
1967
F. William Kuethe: Glen Burnie, MD
Findlay, J. B.
Scottish Conjuring Bibliography
1951
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
Second Collectors Annual
1950
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
Seventh Collectors Annual: Percy Naldrett A Memoir Together with a Checklist of His Publications
1969
Maxwell Clark, London
Findlay, J. B.
Sixth Collectors Annual
1954
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
Tenth Collectors Annual
1994
R. Ricard, Pawtucket, RI
Findlay, J. B.
The Travels of Testot
1965
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.
The Wee Books, The (Supplement #44 to The Magic Cauldron)
1972
Cauldron, Glen Burnie, MD
Findlay, J. B.
Third Collectors Annual
1951
author, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Findlay, J. B.; Sawyer, Thomas A.
Professor Hoffman: A Study
1977
Thomas A. Sawyer, Tustin, CA
The House of Deception is a site for those who like
to read about show business.
This page is a tribute to the late James B.
(Jimmy) Findlay: celebrated reader, author,
scholar, magician, collector, and dealer in all
things regarding deception and the deceptive
arts.
He was our friend and mentor--and the
inspiration for The House of Deception.
Jimmy Findlay was greatly admired by readers
worldwide.
His renowned motto was:
On Bookes for to Rede is my
Delyte
On His Visit to David Price's Egyptian Hall Museum, October 1971:
"There is a chance that I may eventually see this great collection and admire
the work that has been put into the forming, indexing and generally caring for
each little piece. …When I do get to Egyptian Hall I expect to be blinded by the
grandeur of the collection not just in quantity but more in quality. My motto
has always been to add any item not already here to my collection be it book,
pamphlet, poster, playbill, picture and so on with only price being the factor
beyond the lack of the item. This way I have made a rather fine collection here
and as one would expect the accent has been on the paperback. I should very much
doubt if any other Craft or indeed Science or Art has been the means of bringing
out so many paperback titles nor so many "author publications." It's generally
admitted that to be a public performer of magic one has to have an ego and I
suppose it's simply carrying it a bit further when we loom into print. Otherwise
I suppose there might well have been no Collectors Annuals!! These are my honest
views." (letter to Duff Johnson dated March 24, 1971)
"Have been reading most carefully all the writings of our Nashville friend re
Egyptian Hall and there does appear a positive vista of wizardry in the form of
Memorabilia or as Americans have it, "paper." I don't think there is any doubt
in my mind that at Egyptian Hall there is housed the greatest collection of
Posters, Playbills and the like anywhere. But so much more than this is that
D.P. [David Price] knows what he has and knows about the history of the subjects
and I am equally sure he will have all the data neatly tabulated or he could
hardly write such authoritative stories of those GREAT and small." (letter to
Duff Johnson dated June 19, 1971)
"The Nashville visit was an all round success insofar as I could gather and I am
especially pleased that you deemed your trip worthwhile. I know you would have
had a happy time without this writer's presence but a canny Scot perhaps did
help to encourage you in your quest after magic history." (letter to Duff
Johnson dated November 23, 1971)
On Collecting Magic Catalogs:
"Back to catalogues: you say you picked up some years ago and I would esteem it
a favour if you would list them briefly (names, pages) and send it on. Without
boasting I believe I have the most general collection of catalogues ever
gathered together. You know I went round all the main collectors (known to me)
and in none of the collections did I see any large collection of these items.
Most certainly John Henry Grossman had some fine examples as did David [Price]
but none hundreds to show me for I asked. I believe this a most important facet
of magic history and such a listing could be valuable." (letter to Duff Johnson
dated February 10, 1973)
On Genuine Students of Magic History:
"David [Price] has a magnificent collection and is justly proud of it. He was
happy with having two genuine and enthusiastic students with whom to display his
treasures and that is a great thing. I know this only too well for it is seldom
I have the similar type magicians here. Usually it is one at a time but the
majority of passers-by never see my collection proper. Because of its size it is
scattered rather but with method and the bloke who asks if I have "this week's
Abra" sees very little." (letter to Duff Johnson dated November 23, 1971)
On Seemingly Unimportant Artifacts:
"Of course some items look of little importance when one is not too decided as
to what one will collect specially and it is later on that the importance of odd
items show up. An instance: around 40 years ago a troupe of Indian magicians
came to a circus in Glasgow. They were very good and a little booklet was sold
at the show for sixpence. I wonder how many of these now exist and why?, because
amongst the performers was one KUDA BUX."
"I friend of mine whilst in the British Army in India had a visit from another
Indian magician who wanted to be on F.N.S.A. An audition was arranged for him
but this performer never did turn up. Who was he? - none other than the late
Sorcar. Now the copy letter or any other correspondence AT THE TIME would be of
no import but today..."
"And talk of the audience book: this is a specialist type of collecting which
has interested me always and I do have rather a fine selection of this type of
booklet including the Dante, Houdini (8 of these), Levante (7 different), Dr.
Lynn, Anderson, Goldin, Lyle, Chung Ling Sen, Grimmond, to name only those I can
recollect typing here at the machine. I have many others and together would make
quite an imposing list yet not take up a foot of shelf space." (letter to Duff
Johnson dated July 18, 1971)
"Good friend of mine in Glasgow was speaking to a man who was a sort of haker
[hawker] and street trader and in the course of conversation he said he had a
"bit of music with a conjurer on the front." Enough for my friend and they went
to this man's store and there it was, a lovely example of coloured music cover
with the music complete of THE DAVENPORT QUADRILLES. This came rather high and
he had to stump up 6 cents in order to take this trifle home. Seek and ye shall
find." (letter to Duff Johnson dated July 18, 1971)
On Small Libraries and Collections:
"I have always believed that the smallest collection may well have in it certain
items that the seasoned collector has never even heard of let alone seen. And my
greatest thrill is to actually handle such pieces though I must restrict this to
books, booklets or pamphlets for it is the literature of conjuring which grips
me most fervently. The nearest equal item is the poster or playbill with all the
other fields or bypaths not quite reaching the heights of these two." (letter to
Duff Johnson dated July 18, 1971)
"Collectors of experience know not to be surprised at what may turn up in what
might be a very small library or collection. My greatest thrill as a collector
is to handle a book which until that moment was completely new to me. Of course
by that I mean a book or booklet of rare vintage and not one of the many
pot-boilers that are published in such numbers. Here is one of such incidents as
has come my way. Popping in casually to a bookseller with whom I was fairly well
acquainted I came out with the usual "anything come in for me" piece. He told me
he did have something but that it was not for sale. This puzzled me and I
suggested that either he was a book seller or a collector but it was difficult
to be both and what use was there in my hoping to purchase if that was his
attitude. He then tempered a little and said he wanted to read or study the book
first. That I suggested was reasonable enough so long as it was offered for sale
later. Up till now I had the courage NOT to ask to see the book. But now I felt
was time to make this overture and when he produced the tome it took me all my
time and my stoic Scot's instinct to stifle surprise for there was "Second Sight
for Amateurs" a really rare book with perhaps the number still extant being
around half a dozen. See Harry Price Catalogue and his introduction: originally
only 25 copies published in 1888 you may well conjecture as to how many have
survived three wars. To cut a delightful story short I had to wait a further two
weeks before my next visit but then I didn't leave the shop until I had made a
certain joyful purchase. This can happen to anyone who searches." (letter to
Duff Johnson dated June 19, 1971)
"Another book story: as a youth of around 15 I worked in an office in Glasgow.
One day I was sent an errand to a rather poor district and there I spotted a
down at heel bookshop which was closed but whether it was early closing day or
not I do not recollect. However there in the window I espied a copy of a book
titled HAND SHADOWS TO BE CAST UPON THE WALL. Now the shop had an iron open rail
gate across the entry and then inside about 5' forward was the door of the said
shop. The iron gate was around 6' high but young Jimmy climbed over and pushed a
note through the letterbox for the shopkeeper to hold on to the above book till
"tomorrow." I was there BEFORE I went to work - still closed - back again at my
lunch hour and heigh-ho open sesame: I walked in and came out with the little
treasure which still holds a high place in my thoughts. I paid 4 cents for this
and saw another copy sell at Sotheby's [insert Pound symbol]26-0-0. The
variation in price is not the point it is that one may spot an unimportant
looking item and let it go, though I trust not me." (letter to Duff Johnson
dated July 18, 1971)
On R. Toole-Stott:
"My friend Toole-Stott of WORLD CIRCUS BIBLIO. fame insists that the best is
always bought where there may be a choice with a few dollars showing the
difference in quality, and his immaculate library bears this out. Incidentally
it may not be generally known that he is also the authority on the works of
Somerset Maugham and his Bibliography of this author's books is the standard
work." (letter to Duff Johnson dated April 21, 1971)
On Francis White, President of the Magic Circle:
"Next week we have Francis White and his wife here for their usual annual stay.
The Magic Circle Prexy has come here for the past twenty years or more and we
always look forward to his company and that of Ann his wife. I suppose he will
go down as one of the very best Secretaries of the M.C. and perhaps their best
ever President. If this comes to pass then it is only as much as he deserves."
(letter to Duff Johnson dated September 16, 1972)
On Parting with a Collection:
"Should you ever give up completely the collecting of magic history will you
remember that I wrote you about this and the chance older collectors take when
allowing youngsters to have desirable pieces too early. When the interest wanes
and it can for various reasons, suddenly the erstwhile collector finds himself
with a supply of exchangeable goods and in due time he has a Stamp collection, a
Coin collection, or Butterflies, or Knives or Postcards or whatever and some not
too serious collector has the magic material. This way the old vendor is angry,
hurt and annoyed for he knows only too well that the casual collector can never
have the feeling of his older brother who had to strive and search and search
again for the treasures he has so lightly exchanged. This is not sentiment for
it has happened to every old collector in his time." (letter to Duff Johnson
dated December 20, 1970)
"Probably collectors think that their treasures are so more important [to] them
that they could never be without them yet we find over the years that quite a
number have managed to part with their collections and be none the worse for it.
And this sort of thing is not confined to any country for it happened in a
number of isolated instances in different parts of the globe. I have no fears
however that either David Price or this writer will succumb to the blandishments
that loom up as time goes by." (letter to Duff Johnson dated March 24, 1971)
"After so many years in the business of collecting I have seen a number of
super-enthusiasts give up and this is rather sad for they have a sort of
parallel with the practical performer who stops doing shows. The former is
rather inclined to magnify his collection in retrospect and when he encounters a
newer collector will be apt to say "he had that and that ..ad infinitum at one
time. This can reduce for the young man his pride in what he has when he
realises that oh so long ago someone else had all these pieces , whatever they
may be."
"When the practical man gives up public performing he often slips quietly into
the shade for he has nothing left on which to hold on to. He is inclined to pooh
pooh what is being done today and compare it unfavourably with his own time.
This in turn goes a long way towards making him unpopular with his club members
and soon he is avoided. This is a great pity for as a practical worker he could
do so much good amongst the youngsters. Of course had he been a collector in
even a small way then his interest would remain stable and he bright. I can
rattle off three instances that come immediately to mind and all your countrymen
tho this is merely coincidence, who forsook the game when almost at the peak.
One gave up altogether and this was probably on health reasons: another decided
to limit his exertions to Bookplates only and since then has not been heard of
in the usual channels. A third yes and a fourth simply gave up with no known
reason offered. ...I have had such a long run myself and am still bubbling over
with enthusiasm." (letter to Duff Johnson dated April 21, 1971)
James B. (Jimmy) Findlay's
First Magical Collector's Week-End
May 6-8, 1955
Firbank Hotel
Shanklin, Isle of Wight, England
J B Findlay
Firbank Hotel
Shanklin, Isle of Wight
c.1970 "I have had such a long
run myself and am still
bubbling over with
enthusiasm."
The J. B. Findlay bookplate,
familiar worldwide to
enthusiasts of theatrical
deception
All Rights Reserved
Copyright Duff Johnson 2004-2022
No text or image may be copied or
reproduced without written permission.
Below is a bibliography in book list format of
Jimmy Findlay's best known works, followed
by excerpts from his letters to Duff Johnson,
dated from February, 1970 to shortly before
his death.
The letters contain a wealth of sage advice
from The Master on a variety of topics
including magic collecting, maintaining a
library, clubs and conventions, publishing,
retirement and more.
We welcome correspondence from those who
knew him.
"I suppose I do get a bit worked up over the lack of enthusiasm for magic
history on the part of the majority of magicians. As a lover of magic I find
this difficult to comprehend but nevertheless have to face what is an ugly fact
to me. On the other hand I know I am wrong for expecting the ratio of
book-lovers to be much higher than it is for after all there has been quite an
increase in numbers over the past 30 years. ...I have enjoyed every minute of
time spent with my hobby and remained a semi-professional [magician] so that I
did have extra time to employ myself in research. You will know that not too
many professional magicians had time to spare on the delicate craft of
collecting for they had to earn their livelihood by it and as you may well have
read this world has come through some difficult periods." (letter to Duff
Johnson dated August 13, 1970)
On Scottish Magic Collectors:
"A new society has reared itself in my native city of Glasgow. It is called THE
SOCIETY OF MAGIQUARIANS and it has a monthly meeting when members bring along
some item(s) for discussion and the furtherance of knowledge of said pieces.
There are no particular rules apart from the idea that membership is only by
invitation. Whilst it will probably never hit the headlines I am sure that were
you living in or about that city you would be anxious to get an invite to join
the small coterie. I know that by and large there are more collectors in
Scotland than in any other area of same size. Would you say that this was
because we are saddled with being "M'Taks and no M'Gies?" Translated meaning
'will take but not give.'" (letter to Duff Johnson dated November 13, 1972)
On Magician's Conventions:
"From general accounts by various magicians this Convention [1972 Pacific Coast
Association of Magicians] was a success but the same apparently could not be
said of others such as the Buffalo affair. My own opinion and that of others too
is that there are now too many such gatherings taking place. My view is that the
time has now well and truly arrived when the SPECIALIST convention should be
tried out. Let all the card men go together and flummox each other with their
superior finger-flinging subtleties and look at each other with awe and
admiration at the individual prowess of each other. Then the MENTALISTS could
also "reach" each other perhaps in a more round about way but meet nevertheless
and watch each other being perplexed. And as we go down the scale or should it
be up, come to the collector and here we could all indulge in silent envy,
jealousy, and perhaps stronger feelings as we look upon the treasures of others.
You get the general idea and I do feel that we could get round to working on
this notion." (letter to Duff Johnson dated September 16, 1972)
On Publishing The Eighth Collector's Annual: International Guide to
Posters and Playbills:
"At the printers again this morning for the umpteenth time and at least they
have ALMOST given me a delivery date. They say "end of month at latest." For
months now it has been a case of "Live on old horse and you'll get corn." and I
am very fed up with the corn dished out on TV without having corn from the
printers. Just as soon as deliveries come to hand so will I be extremely busy
getting orders out. I do hope you will like the finished article and I will be
interested in your findings." (letter to Duff Johnson dated August 1, 1973)
On Retirement:
"It's been a very very busy time recently for this writer since the Margate
affair [British Conjuring Convention]. Firstly an Australian visitor, Peter
Rogers, then Tom Hawbacker and Victor Trask for a few days, followed immediately
after by an English collector together with Mickey Hades. After their stay was
up I had a French collector Jacques Voignier here for best part of a week. Only
Sat. last have I been free to get on with the pressing work of galley-proof
reading and keeping correspondence as up to date as possible. Now I am preparing
for two lectures I will be giving next Sat. and Sunday respectively down in
Devon and Cornwall. This is what is termed retirement!" (letter to Duff Johnson
dated October 24, 1972)
On Meeting Unknown Collectors and the Importance of Careful Listening:
"I am sure the meeting up with other collectors would help to make the long
trips you made worth while. This is one of the great things about this
collecting game - no matter with whom you speak on the subject generally, you
can learn something so long as the other person is also an addict to our happy
craze. I may have recounted the story earlier to you but if so remember that I
am an oldster now and I suppose may be allowed a little repetition. Doing a
lecture at B.R. [British Ring] convention, after it was over and I was in the
midst of packing up a young man came up and (I thought he said) I have a De Vere
coin which if you wish I will send you. I stopped and with a few words of
acceptance and thanks forgot all about it. A few days later in came the coin
which turned out to be a DE BIERE example and one then quite new to me. So you
see Duff it behoves one to listen." (letter to Duff Johnson dated June 12, 1972)
On Book Collecting and the Harry Price, David Price and George Jenness
Libraries:
"I have examined very very closely the photos you sent of Dave Price and his
wife and also the various magical exhibits. Fascinating as you said in your
earlier epistle and one's appetite is further whetted by what is not seen but
what one may visualize forms this noted collection. Dave has always made it
clear that the nucleus was formed originally by W.W. Durbin but I feel confident
that that gentleman would now not recognize The Egyptian Hall Museum as it now
stands. I suppose in part, this must also be the position regarding the Harry
Price Collection of 1935 (its latest listing) and what might well have been
added in the interim. For that matter I may state that I regarded the H.P.
catalogue as my conjuring bible and my aim as a young man was to get as many of
the titles as were in his catalogue. This was in 1929 when the catalogue first
appeared. Later I began to be a trifle more selective and kept away from
strictly Spiritualistic works (pseudo-genuine) apart from what may be considered
reference or standard type titles. Then a further weeding out of titles which in
my GREAT judgement (without sight of many of them) books I considered
extraneous. Next came the separating of as many of the titles which were in fact
NOT books at all but simply magazine articles. Here one can only work from
experience and happily I was an avid collector of such items. This way I got and
still get so much more pleasure from the reading of this particular catalogue
that it and such others as it are my bedside books. Mr. [Harry] Price I met a
couple of times and he was very nice to me. The first time we met however was
rather fun for after the intros. I said "I have brought you a book." Now for a
young man in his twenties to say such a thing to The Master Collector of his
time (in this country) was bordering on the cheeky if not actually impertinent.
His brows went up and I saw a slightly amused look on his face. And with all
respect he was a little disappointed when he discovered that the book was indeed
a new one to him. Naturally I was a bit diligent in making a selection from my
then small store but this incident was one from which I learned something
tremendously important. When you look at a small collection or library it is
probably a certainty that there you will find something quite new to you or an
item though known yet not in your own collections. I admit to believing mine is
a large library yet I was stumped a few months ago by George Jenness. Looking
through his books I was astounded to find a copy of PRACTICAL MAGIC by Guy
Austin with boards binding. Until then and collecting for more than fifty years
I had never seen this edition. Conversely and even more strange was the
admission by Geo. that he had never known any other edition but this. Now a
dozen and more of the paperback editions had passed through my hands yet the
other completely unknown. This then is the thrill or one of the thrills of
collecting books and posters. This sort of experience also cuts one down to size
- not that I am very tall - which brings me to my own motto 'No-one knows it all
and no-one has it all.'" (letter to Duff Johnson dated October 30, 1970)
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Findlay
Firbank Hotel
Shanklin, Isle of Wight, England
Chrismas Card cover (c. 1950s undated)
The Wit and Wisdom of James B. (Jimmy) Findlay
Excerpts from Letters to Duff Johnson
February 1970-October 1973
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Findlay
Firbank Hotel
Shanklin, Isle of Wight, England
Chrismas Card (c. 1950s undated)
COPYRIGHT! YOU MAY NOT REPRINT THESE QUOTES!
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4 1/2"x3" greeting card given to Duff
Johnson by Jimmy and Elsie Findlay,
October 5, 1971 at David Price's Egyptian
Hall Museum, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
HouseofDeception.com Sacramento, California USA
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