Ricky Jay

A cult classic and a work of remarkable scholarship, this title is an investigation into the inspired world of side shows, circuses, and singularly talented performers. Jay's unparalleled collection of books, posters, photographs, programs, broadsides, and data about unjustifiably forgotten entertainers all over the world made this unique book possible.

One of the New York Times 's "Notable Books" and a Los Angeles Times "Best Book of the Year": Ricky Jay's brilliant excursion into the history of bizarre entertainments. Ingesters of stones, stoats, and swords have long compelled my attention. Signor Hervio Nano, the fantastic homunculus, defied conventional taxonomy. The well-trained flea has shown sufficient rationality to drive a chariot, impersonate Napoleon, or reenact the siege of Antwerp. Note the enduring popularity of severing from the head its most protuberant organthe nose. The Bonassus, advertised as unique, was in 1821 the most numerous hoofed quadruped on the face of the earth. In an era rich in examples of animal scholarship, Munito was a star. The multitalented Ricky Jay (sleight-of-hand artist, actor, author, and scholar of the unusual) wrote and published a unique and beautifully designed quarterly called Jay's Journal of Anomalies . Already coveted collector's items, the sixteen issues are now gathered here in a complete set, with significant new material and illustrations. A brilliant excursion into the history of bizarre entertainments, the journal was described in The New York Times as "beautiful and elegant...a combination of rigorous scholarship and personal rumination." In a delectably deadpan and winning style, Jay conveys his admiration and affection for the offbeat that characterized his best-selling Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women . The journal covers such subjects as dogs stealing acts from other dogs, an anthropological hoax involving the only survivors of a caste of ancient Aztec priests, and the ultimate eating nothing at all. Jay explains how wags since the sixteenth century have cheated at bowling; he explores the ancient relationship between conjuring and dentistry; and he chronicles the exploits of ceiling walkers and human flies. Crammed full of illustrations drawn from the author's massive personal archives, Jay's Journal of Anomalies will baffle, instruct, and, above all, delight. 150 illustrations.

Plato said God invented dice. This we learn from one of Ricky Jay's fascinating essays in a delightful small volume that takes us from the earliest forms ( astragali the heel bones of hoofed quadrupeds, four of whose six sides were used for gaming) to the myriad types of "loading" and other means of cheating with dice in the modern era. Along the way we discover that Augustus, Caligula, and Nero were all inveterate players, that Queen Elizabeth issued a search and seizure order against the manufacture of false dice in 1598, and that dice made from celluloid, invented in 1869, remained stable for decades, and thenin a flashbegan to decompose. These are the dice of Rosamond Purcell's luminous and seductive photographs, images which transform entropy to an art form. Jay and Purcell give us a dual meditation on dice that will educate us and amuse us at the same time. 13 color photographs.

The author of the critically acclaimed Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women, a nationally known sleight-of-hand expert, movie actor and magician extraordinaire, presents a stylish parody of self-defense books that demonstrates how ordinary playing cards can be used as a means of protection. Photos.

Celebrations of Curious Characters cracks open the personal vaults of Ricky Jay—raconteur, historian, and one of the world's great sleight-of-hand artists—exposing a wonderful world of amusing and arcane knowledge. Adapted from his popular radio series "Jay's Journal of the Air," Celebrations of Curious Characters features one-page anecdotes of mind-bending performers (limbless jugglers, banjo-picking birds, Anglo-Texan saxophone-playing siamese twins) paired with engravings, mezzotints, and broadsheets from the author's remarkable collection. You'll find engaging vignettes on a daunting variety of topics: musical prodigies, cannon-ball catchers, conmen, card cheats, and performing politicians. Plus, a man who made a model of Lincoln Cathedral out of 1,000,800 bottle corks; a woman continuously pregnant for six-and-a-half years; a theatrical strong man who became the world's leading Egyptologist; and a healthy number of digressions on time, money, and the argot of thieves.

Matthias Buchinger (1674-1739) performed on more than a half-dozen musical instruments, some of his own invention. He exhibited trick shots with pistols, swords and bowling. He danced the hornpipe and deceived audiences with his skill in magic. He was a remarkable calligrapher specializing in micrography-handsome, precise letters almost impossible to view with the naked eye-and he drew portraits, coats of arms, landscapes and family trees, many commissioned by royalty. Amazingly, Buchinger was just 29 inches tall, and born without legs or arms. He lived to the ripe old age of 65, survived three wives, wed a fourth and fathered 14 children. Accompanying the Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition "Wordplay: Matthias Buchinger's Inventive Drawings from the Collection of Ricky Jay," the book is a cabinet containing a single, multifaceted wonder, refracted through author Ricky Jay's scholarship and storytelling. Alongside an unprecedented and sumptuously reproduced selection of Buchinger's marvelous drawings and etchings, Jay delves into the history and mythology of the "Little Man," while also chronicling his encounters with the many fascinating characters whom he meets in his passionate search for Buchinger. Ricky Jay is considered one of the world's great sleight-of-hand artists. His career is further distinguished by his accomplishments as author, actor and historian of "unusual entertainments." He has appeared in films directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Gus Van Sant and David Mamet. His "Jay's Journal of Anomalies" and "Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women" were "New York Times" "Notable Books." The subject of the documentary "Ricky Jay: Deceptive Practices," Jay is the only conjurer to be profiled in the PBS series "American Masters."

Here is a Mini Pin Named, Delilah. Through life’s journey she learns life lessons with friends and family and often discusses those lessons with mommy and daddy. Join Delilah as she learns and has lots of fun with friends and family along the way, come on!!! What are you waiting for? About the I've launched a new children's book series where kiddos can learn with Delilah important life issues that they at some point may encounter. At the end of every book there is a discussion starter for both pup and parent. Have fun on this adventure and grow in Knowledge with DELILAH. As both a parent and a licensed Foster parent as well as an adoptive parent, there are lots of things I've learned by simply experiencing and discussing with my kids these topics inside the Delilah books. This is a fun and exciting way to speak with your pup's while they are young that we both may learn and grow together. -Ricky Jay

This issue features new and fascinating research by Ricky Jay and Enrique Jiménez-Martinez that casts doubt on the integrity of the stories in The life, adventures, and unparalleled sufferings of Andrew Oehler, while simultaneously taking a look at the degree of suffering magicians faced at the hands of religious persecutors in the 1400s to 1800s! Additionally we have a rare and privileged look into the New York magic scene from 1938-1958 courtesy of none other than Jean Hugard! We have reproduced and annotated his letters to Orville Meyer and they contain all the salient tips, tricks, commentary, and, of course, gossip that you would expect…and more!

A beautifully designed book featuring hundreds of full-color photos of Ricky’s collection accompanied by text and captions by Ricky! Prepare for an awe-inspiring visual journey through one of the greatest collections of magic books, broadsides, posters and other kindred subjects ever assembled. This massive, 8.5” x 11”, 350-page book is printed on beautiful acid-free archival paper in full color with sewn signatures, head and tail bands, a place holder ribbon, bound in luxurious foil-stamped cloth with a matching clothbound, foil-stamped slipcase. Featuring hundreds of full color photos of Ricky’s collection, accompanied by text and captions by Ricky. Also included are contributions from David Mamet and Steve Martin. The design by Ricky and Coco Shinomiya-Gorodetsky beautifully shows off Ricky’s incredible collection of magic and many related fields. Ricky Jay was a great mentor to the Conjuring Arts Research Center, which very likely wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for his tutelage. Therefore it’s a great honor for Conjuring Arts to have been selected by Ricky’s wife, Chrisann Verges, to publish this marvelous book. This edition is limited to 1000 copies and each copy is hand numbered on the reverse of the title page.

Reefer Rookie is a quick and painless guide for those new to cannabis use.Ricky Jay simplifies years of experience and discusses everything he wishes he knew when he first started using cannabis. After decades of abstinence from alcohol thanks to a miraculous plant, Ricky delved deeply into the world of cannabis. He learned the lessons for you. Why do it again? Get real world advice and explanations. Learn the basics, get some great tips, discover ways to consume, ways to stay out of trouble, and more!