Any recommendations on a book or article that talks about the history of the cups and balls in some depth?

Thanks,
Bob

The book "Street Magic" that Jeff Sheridan helped write several years ago isn't too bad. I don't have it right in front of me, but I'll try to find the main authors name.

I did find that book as a reprint...
http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=6149

Muchas Gracias!  Sounds very interesting as that book appears to hit upon magic history up until recent times.

If any additional sources exist for Cups and Balls history, please send them along.

There are several sources that I can recommend, though many are to do with the cups & balls as depicted in paintings and drawings:

Bob Read: An Eternal Quest for Cups & Balls Art, in: Magic Magazine, July 2003. Vol. 12; No. 11: p. 68-69. Article by Gabe Fajuri.

Mystery of Beni Hasan, in: Magic, March 1997. Vol. 6; No. : p. 52. Article by Jim McKeague that debunks the Beni Hasan myth. Great pictures of the mural.

Bob Read. The French Connection, in: Magic, July 1997. Vol. 6; No. 11: p. 56-61.

Kurt Volkmann. Renaissance Art, in: The Sphinx, October 1950. Vol. 49; No. 8: p. 179-183.

Kurt Volkmann. The Oldest Deception: Minneapolis, 1957. Small hardback book showing the very earliest depictions of c&b in art. Copies appear on eBay a couple of times per year and usually sell for around $100 - $150.

I will be releasing some new material about the history of the cups and balls soon.

One advantage I have is that I have made reproductions of some of the kinds of cups that were used in very early times. After having experimented with them a bit, I have come to the conclusion that the cups and balls in the early days may have been more closely related to the shell game than to what we now call the cups and balls.

Bill,
I look forward to reading your new material. I find your posts very interesting as I research the histories and stories behind old props. I appreciate all that you share.
Thanks,
Bruce

Here is a link to an article by Gabe Fajuri:

http://www.miraclefactory.net/mpt/view.php?id=173&type=articles

Also Clarke's "Annals of Conjuring" has some good info.

http://www.miraclefactory.net/annalsimages.htm

Magic Magazine - July of 1997 - The main feature is Bob Read on the cups and balls. This is a great issue and can still be purchased.

http://www.magicmagazine.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=2&sort=2d&page=7

PT,
Thanks for the links... you help my day go by faster.
take care,
Bruce