Potter & Potter Auctions
Live Auction

Artifacts of Play

Sun, Oct 12, 2025 12:00PM EDT
Lot 91

CANASTA, Chan (1920 – 99). Chan Canasta's Book of Oopes. Lo...

Estimate: $100 - $200

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$30 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $200
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
CANASTA, Chan (1920 ? 99).?Chan Canasta's Book of Oopes.?London: George G. Harap & Co., (1966). Color pictorial wraps, illustrated with line drawings. 8vo. Bookplate of Edwin A. Dawes. Near fine.From the back cover: ?This is the first ever book that can mind-read. It is based on a completely new and unusual idea ? you, the reader, are the Spectator, and the Book is the performer of a series of exciting mind reading tricks." Canasta was a well-known mentalist who worked primarily in England and whose reputation was secured in the magic world by a series of astonishing TV appearances where he was alternately successful and unsuccessful with various mind reading effects he presented. His failures humanized his performances in a way that captivated viewers. Even though this book was published for a wide audience, examples have become difficult to locate.