Five Foot Shelf Up To Date

In Annemann's Jinx, a concept was born: The Five Foot Shelf. The idea is a simple one. If given only five linear feet of shelf space in total, which magic books would you fill it with?

Annemann's thoughts on the subject, published in Jinx #8 (May, 1935):


"Down through the years have come many books on the art of magic and allied subjects. Of late the production of such literature has increased until hardly a week goes by without the appearance of a book, brochure or manuscript. Many are good and many are not. The titles given here is an impartial and unbiased opinion of my own as to what books constitute
a working library on the art of mystifying.

"Every included work has its value and I take my stand now that the shelf of magic as herein listed covers every phase and known principle necessary to a modern performer. There are hundreds of other books, magazines and pamphlets which contain excellent and practical effects but I'm not listing trick books alone. I'm listing what I think are textbooks and if an absolute stranger to magic asked me tomorrow what books he should buy I'd give him this list. Check it over carefully and see if you can think of a subject connected with mystifying that isn't covered with the best book (my opinion) obtainable.

"Books from this list can all be secured through Leo Rullman - 203 West 81st Street - New York City. Mr. Rullman looked this over and estimated the cost of such a shelf at about $125.00. This does not include a file of The Sphinx to date. For thousands of good tricks and for a perfect insight into and knowledge of the trend of modern magic there is no better file to have on hand, but for specialised works take the list as given. I consider the complete file of Stanyon's Magic as the most important followed by Tarbell's monumental course. These two items alone make a working library. From there on it is a matter of speciality.

"Bring me a person who has assimilated the knowledge contained within this list and I'll back him academically against the world of magic to-day.

"Stanyon, Magic (periodical, 15 vols., complete)
Tarbell, Tarbell Course of Magic
Stanyon, The Stanyon Serials,(1-21)
Downs, The Art of Magic
Hilliard, (Sequel to above now being published) [Greater Magic - G.F.]
Sachs, Sleight of Hand
Maskelyne and Devant, Our Magic
Hoffmann, Modern Magic
Hatton and Plate, Magician's Tricks
Clarke, Annals of Conjuring (Magic Wand Nos.121-140)
Houdin, The Secrets of Conjuring and Magic
Thurston, 200 Tricks You Can Do
Thurston, 200 More Tricks You Can Do
Erdnase, The Expert at the Card Table
Annemann, 202 Methods of Forcing
Johnson, The Open Book
Lloyd, Thimble Manipulation
Deveen, Expert Cigarette Manipulation
Hull, Billiard Ball Manipulation (2 parts)
Lippy, Chemical Magic
Houdini, Paper Magic
Hull, 33 Rope Ties and Chain Releases
Gibson, Houdini's Escapes
Hurst, The Georgia Wonder
Houdini, Miracle Mongers
de Laurence, Medical Hypnosis and Magnetic Hypnotism
de Laurence, The Book, of Black Magic and of Pacts
Prince, The Whole Art of Ventriloquism
Roth, Roth Memory Course
Carrington, The Physical Phenomena of Spiritualism
Abbott, Behind the Scenes with the Mediums
Alexander, The Life and Mysteries of Dr.'Q'
Hull, How To Answer Questions
Dusenbery, Making Magic Pay
Glen, The [Magician's] Road To Fame
Funk and Wagnall's, The Practical Standard Dictionary
Globe Book Company, Elementary Grammar"

So ends Annemann's list. The question I often ask is what books should be added to his Five Foot Shelf, and which titles are no longer relevant to the modern magician.

I'm no Ted Annemann, but I have considered the literature of magic, both past and present, and have a few suggestions to make regarding essential texts. Some of the titles below may have popped up in a previous post of mine, but so be it. I love books. That said, here's my short list, which is still a work in progress:

-Steinmeyer, The Complete Jarrett
-Bamberg, Illusion Show
-Gardner, The Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic
-Wilson, The Mark Wilson Course in Magic
-Waldron, Blackstone: A Magician's Life
-Kaufman, David Roth's Expert Coin Magic
-Bobo, The New Modern Coin Magic
-Hugard & Braue, Expert Card Technique
-Hugard & Braue, The Royal Road to Card Magic
-Annemann, The Jinx (Complete file, 1-150)
-Gibson, The Phoenix & New Phoenix
-James, The Encyclopedia of Rope Tricks
-Rice, The Encyclopedia of Silk Magic
-Corinda, 13 Steps to Mentalism
-James, The Essential Stewart James
-Marlo, Revolutionary Card Technique
-Ganson, The Dai Vernon Book of Magic
-Ben, Dai Vernon: A Biography (Vol. 1)
-Price, Magic: A Pictorial History of Conjurers in the Theatre
-Sharpe, Conjurer's Secrets (Vols. 1-5)
-Giobbi, Card College (Vols. 1-5)