New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

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Magic Newswire
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New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Magic Newswire » November 2nd, 2009, 1:09 pm

Today. the FedEx man dropped off a Sixteen Pound Coffee Table... I mean Coffee Table book by Taschen, "Magic: 1400-1950." All that I can say is WOW!

It measures 29 x 44 cm (11.4 x 17.3 in.) with 650 pages beautiful pages!

If you haven't ordered yours, do so. You going to want this one! Beautiful!

I was looking forward to receiving this, but had no idea that I'd be so impressed!

Kudos to Jim & Mike!

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Magic Newswire » November 2nd, 2009, 1:31 pm

Because I'm already receiving emails, I posted an entry at my site to give you more info: LOOK HERE

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Richard Kaufman » November 2nd, 2009, 1:46 pm

Those who are in danger of a hernia are advised to be CAREFUL.
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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Steve Bryant » November 2nd, 2009, 2:16 pm

Received my copy over the weekend. What a beautiful book.

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Richard Kaufman » November 2nd, 2009, 4:43 pm

Mine showed up today. Lots to to look at. The layout is better than the Circus book because there's no text on top of the images.
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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Magic Randy » November 2nd, 2009, 11:10 pm

Mine first shipped today. Looks like they shipped mine later because I had free shipping (just a guess).

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Kevin Connolly » November 2nd, 2009, 11:39 pm

Mine has been sitting in a warehouse since Saturday morning. It finally moved a half hour ago and will be here tomorrow. That's why it's good to always have other crap coming in. IMHO
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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Magic Newswire » November 2nd, 2009, 11:49 pm

Thank goodness this one isn't crap! I cannot express how much I love this book. The graphics are stunning and the content is even better. Now I need a pocket version to take with me to the DMV tomorrow. I still can't figure out how they can print and deliver it so cheaply. It would cost me more to ship it to Mike, Jim and Ricky for signature than I paid for it. Amazing.

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Mike Carr » November 3rd, 2009, 11:16 am

Just received mine. The UPS man groused about the weight while bringing them to the door,
Slipped him $10.00 "for lunch" and everything was peachy. ;)

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Richard Kaufman » November 3rd, 2009, 3:36 pm

He should grouse about the weight--he should get hazard pay for picking it up.
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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Kevin Connolly » November 3rd, 2009, 4:31 pm

WOW! Without even opening the shrinkwrap, it's worth the 99 bucks! You really can't imagine the size till you pop the carton open. So far, it's a winner.
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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Dick Koornwinder » November 3rd, 2009, 5:04 pm

I still feel guilty. It was so obvious the postman was very, very curious to know what the hell was in that heavy parcel. By probably a kind of job-related disability I have kept it a secret and told him he did not want to know it. Anyhow he would not have believed me if I had told him it was just a booklet.

To leaf through the book one more time the link: http://www.taschen.com/lookinside/00378/index.htm

Kind regards,
Dick

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby CraigMitchell » November 4th, 2009, 2:06 am

Thanks for the link, Dick ! Wonderful to get such a great preview ...

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Magic Mike » November 4th, 2009, 9:08 am

Still waiting.....
Eagerly anticipating it's arrival.

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby DrDanny » November 4th, 2009, 10:17 am

My copy arrived yesterday, and even with the advanced warning from folks here, I was shocked by the mass and bignitude of this thing.

I'm in the habit of covering dust jackets with mylar covers (a la Brodart).....do those exist in this size? Serious question, that.

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Magic Newswire » November 4th, 2009, 10:26 am

Someone asked that on another forum and I suggested getting some sheet mylar from a local craft store. He later posted a link to this company: http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=255&

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby DrDanny » November 8th, 2009, 10:22 pm

As luck would have it, a 2nd-hand bookstore near me sells 18" Brodart covers cut to length from a roll, quite reasonably priced. (http://www.bookbuyers.com/ if you care.)

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby erdnasephile » November 8th, 2009, 11:05 pm

DrDanny:
May I please ask, which of the bookbuyers store did you get your custome Brodart from, and what length of the Brodart do you need for the book? (They don't have an email on that site to ask questions)

thanks!

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby CraigMitchell » November 9th, 2009, 6:49 am

Anyone know why the authors specifically chose to end it in the 1950's as opposing to going all the way to 2000. It would have been really great if it included the more modern history as well - thus becoming the ultimate chronicle of magic.

What's 50 years when going all the way back to the 1400's ;-)

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Magic Newswire » November 9th, 2009, 7:11 am

I believe that I read that it was because of the onset of television.

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby erdnasephile » November 9th, 2009, 8:21 am

CraigMitchell wrote:Anyone know why the authors specifically chose to end it in the 1950's as opposing to going all the way to 2000. It would have been really great if it included the more modern history as well - thus becoming the ultimate chronicle of magic. . .


I felt that, visually, it was a natural place to end. Performing venues changed quite a lot with television; there was a period of regrouping within the magic community, assessing where best to perform, how best to perform, what to perform. And in consultation with Mike and Jim, we agreed that seemed like an appropriate place to stop. Editor Noel Daniel as quoted in M A G I C Magazine, November 2009, pg 39.

(FWIW, for those interested in the book, the above referenced article gives a candid look into the massive amount of work it took to bring this project into fruition--truly a labor of love and not likely to be repeated in our lifetimes.)

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby CraigMitchell » November 9th, 2009, 10:07 am

Thanks for that !

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby MaxNY » November 9th, 2009, 1:19 pm

$99 dollars? I haven't priced out the book yet, but where can I find one at that price, or lower...

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Magic Newswire » November 9th, 2009, 2:24 pm

With shipping from Amazon it is $133.00

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Kevin Connolly » November 9th, 2009, 2:33 pm

$99 delivered from Amazon when you apply for their card.
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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Magic Newswire » November 9th, 2009, 2:54 pm

If you really want to support the authors however, Mike will be selling them for around $150

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Dustin Stinett » November 9th, 2009, 3:27 pm

Mike's price at the conference was $160. I suspect that there will be some shipping added on. But there is one thing you can get by buying it from Mike Caveney that you cannot get from Amazon: His autograph. Now, all that having been said, Im not certain that he has any left: Interested buyers should contact him.

Dustin

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Richard Kaufman » November 9th, 2009, 3:38 pm

Mike sold out all the copies he had at the Conference in LA. He, Jim, and Noel Daniel all signed the copies purchased there. Ricky Jay refused to sign any books.
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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby John LeBlanc » November 9th, 2009, 3:50 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote:Ricky Jay refused to sign any books.


Can you blame him? Who wants to sign, "To eBay winner..." all day long?

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby magicam » November 9th, 2009, 4:40 pm

^^^ Actually, perhaps Jay understands that people who write short introductory pieces have no business being credited as a co-author of a book and thus signing it (see thread title as an example, but it's not the only time that Jay has inexplicably been credited as a co-author).

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Richard Kaufman » November 9th, 2009, 7:14 pm

I'm remembering all the times, as a college student and in my 20s, that I went to readings by John Cheever, E.L. Doctrow, Ann Beatie, and many more and they happily autographed their books. Norman Mailer's son was living in the same NYU dorm as me, and I asked him (Mailer, not his son) if he would sign one of his novels and he did--quite happily. They weren't penalizing everyone because a few people might try to sell the signed books at book fairs later on (this was, of course, before eBay existed).
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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby DrDanny » November 9th, 2009, 10:59 pm

I can't think of a single instance where an artist has refused to sign a copy of their work for me when I asked. Maybe I've been lucky, or know instinctively who not to approach, but anyone I've asked has been most accommodating. (No, I never asked Ricky Jay....)

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Richard Kaufman » November 9th, 2009, 11:38 pm

There are certain celebs who won't sign. I think Paul Newman usually refused to sign.

Having a book autographed by its author strikes me as something different than having an actor sign a piece of paper or a photo.

A book is something that has been written by this author, and having this author's original handwriting in it seems a unique thing.
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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby magicam » November 10th, 2009, 12:56 am

^^^ For me, its part of making and keeping a connection however tenuous with the author. I realize most do not share my great enthusiasm for books, but I really enjoy meeting or talking with an author and getting to know why he/she wrote the book, etc., and I ask for an inscription as a way of memorializing the interaction. And I try to do this with all authors, famous or not so famous. I remember driving nearly four hours each way to the boonies of northern California to meet Vincent Gaddis, who wrote The Wide World of Magic. By that time, he was old and frail, but he was thrilled to have a visitor show interest in him and his (then) 30 year old book. We spoke for several hours and he kindly inscribed my copies of his book. So, as the years pass, whenever I look at his book, some great memories come to mind. IMHO, thats the best thing about getting a book inscribed.

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Diego » November 10th, 2009, 3:07 am

A columnist once wrote, "One of the hazards of being a published author, is going into a used book store, and finding copies of your books, that you have inscribed to relatives and friends."

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby John LeBlanc » November 10th, 2009, 9:19 am

Punishing the majority for the sins of the few seems to have become de rigueur. I don't accept that as reasonable.

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Jonathan Townsend » November 10th, 2009, 9:37 am

John LeBlanc wrote:Punishing the majority for the sins of the few seems to have become de rigueur. I don't accept that as reasonable.


Unfortunately that's part of being an adult in a society which claims to have representational policy. You buy the product and endorse its manufacturers in one transaction. In short you buy the sin to show how much you love the sinner.

No stones thrown or turned.

But what does this have to do with the latest offering from those who value our history enough to preserve some of its art in a coffee table book?

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby John LeBlanc » November 10th, 2009, 10:18 am

Jonathan Townsend wrote:But what does this have to do with the latest offering from those who value our history enough to preserve some of its art in a coffee table book?


A well known figure in our weird little world participated in the production of a magnificent book that has high value to the history of magic, and refused to sign his name inside the cover of one or more of those books. I have several important books that have signatures in them; they add value to the history of that book.

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Jonathan Townsend » November 10th, 2009, 10:29 am

Not much on that form of sympathetic magic here though if you ask them nicely when they visit you they'd likely oblige by writing a note in your copy of that book.
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time

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Re: New Book by Jim Steinemeyer, Ricky Jay & Mike Caveney Arrives

Postby Dustin Stinett » November 10th, 2009, 10:31 am

John LeBlanc wrote:Punishing the majority for the sins of the few seems to have become de rigueur. I don't accept that as reasonable.


There are those who see only the negative sides of things just as there are those who see only the positives: Both are equally frustrating. (For an over the top example of the later, see Alec Baldwins brilliant turn on the show Friends where he plays a character that is annoyingly positive about everything.)

Those with a more pragmatic and balanced outlook can criticize all they want, but it will do no good: It is what it is. Complaining about it only fuels the fire; particularly among those with a pessimistic viewpoint.

Dustin


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