David Price's Magic: A Pictorial History of Conjurers in the Theater, an encyclopedic work consisting of over 500 folio-sized pages, has become the bible of magic history. Price, a magician and historian, offers detailed accounts of the lives of hundreds of performers, many of whom are not covered in any other book. A terrific color section reproduces many beautiful magic posters and lithographs, and the work is filled with black and white photographs of performers. Available only through magic books dealers, A Pictorial History sells for about $60. If you buy one book on magic history, this is the one to get. ( )