Dante: The Devil Himself
New York: Self published, (1991). Limited unnumbered edition. Hardcover. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR, ALSO SIGNED BY TWO OF DANTE'S ASSISTANTS. 4to. [9], 251, 24pp. Green cloth with gold lettering on cover and spine in original color illustrated dust jacket. Magic historian Phil Temple's "Dante: The Devil Himself" is based largely on Dante's personal records and Temple's friendship with surviving family members who had toured with the show decades earlier. Dante the Magician (a.k.a. Harry August Jansen) was the king in the golden age of big illusion shows. One of the most magnificent magic shows was the spectacular Sim Sala Bim, a extravaganza of magic, music and laughter. Printed b/w sketch of Dante and Moi-Yo Miller in Sim Sala Bim mounted on inside of front board. Sketch signed by Temple, Moi-Yo Miller Montes, Arturo Montes and Marion Trikosko. Moi-Yo Miller was the stage name of Mona Loretta Miller, an Australian who became the principal assistant to Dante. Miller became an integral part of Dante's show Sim Sala Bim. Marion S. Trikosko spent two years (1943-45) with Dante as his assistant. His book "Trouping with Dante," was published in 2006. Mounted below sketch is Temple's business card. Inscription on free front endpaper: "For: Edward Home The New "Lord" of "Rancho Dante". With the sincerest best wishes of the author & publisher, Phil Temple - 2/93 -." Frontispiece of Dante. Foreword by Moi-Yo Miller Montes. Profusely illustrated with "Jansen the great transformist" and "Dante the Magician" color posters & b/w reproductions of photographs. Special 24 page Sim Sala Bim section in rear. Tail of spine slightly bumped and creased. Minor creasing and staining on dj. Tight copy with dj in good+, book in very good condition. Unique signed association copy. Item #31417
Price: $450.00