Forum Auctions presents The Ricky Jay Collection, an exclusive auction of rare and historic magic ephemera, to be held on Thursday 27th February 2025. The auction will feature a remarkable array of items from the personal collection of the legendary magician, performer, and author Ricky Jay, whose passion for illusion captivated audiences for decades.
Described in a 1993 New Yorker profile as ‘perhaps the most gifted sleight-of-hand artist alive,’ Ricky Jay’s career was one of extraordinary versatility. His one-man show, Ricky Jay & His 52 Assistants, earned him both the Lucille Lortel and Obie Awards for Outstanding Achievement, and included a hugely successful run at London’s Old Vic. Beyond the stage, Jay was a respected actor, frequently collaborating with his close friend David Mamet in films such as The Spanish Prisoner (1997), State and Main (2000), and Redbelt (2008). He also worked with Paul Thomas Anderson in Boogie Nights (1998) and Magnolia (1999). Whilst Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige (2006), saw him both acting in and advising on the film’s intricate depictions of magic. His expertise in illusion made him a sought-after consultant on films like The Escape Artist (1982), The Natural (1984), Wolf (1994), Forest Gump (1994) and Ocean’s Thirteen (2007). Jay also authored several influential books, including Cards as Weapons (1977), Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women (1986), and Jay’s Journal of Anomalies (2001), solidifying his legacy as both a performer and scholar of the mysterious.
A historian of magic and theatrical curiosities, he assembled an extraordinary collection of books, manuscripts, and ephemera related to conjuring, deception, and the performing arts - a trove that has been showcased over the years at renowned institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Hammer Museum. This final auction of Ricky Jay’s collection focuses exclusively on books and works on paper, 211 pieces in total, with a particular emphasis on his significant collection of English-printed historical broadsides. This includes one particularly rare example advertising the performance of ‘the wonderful Miss Beffin’ (Lot 139), who’s skill as a Mouth and Foot painting Artist sees her described in the materials as the ‘eighth wonder’ of the world. Other highlights include a rare and charming work on ‘Hocus Pocus or the Art of Conjuration’ (Lot 36), one of only a few copies of the text known to be in circulation today.
Here's a link: https://online.fliphtml5.com/peuem/xhly/
The Forum website: https://www.forumauctions.co.uk/
Rupert Powell, Deputy Chairman and International Head of Books at Forum Auctions, commented:
“We at Forum are honoured to be entrusted with The Ricky Jay Collection. Ricky was not only a magician of extraordinary skill, but also a historian and curator of magic’s rich past. This auction is a celebration of his life’s work, and we are thrilled to share the final auction of this remarkable collection with the world. The sale offers an unparalleled opportunity to acquire significant pieces that celebrate his extraordinary legacy.”
