“The I.B.M. Ring 60 Magic Auction is undoubtedly the biggest annual auction of magic ever held!” Don’t take my word for it; that quote is from The Linking Ring magazine, the official organ of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
It all started in 1975 with a One-Day Mini Magic Convention, the brainchild of Fred Scott Donaldson and Judy Wilkes/Donaldson, who ran The Scott Magic Company in Austin. They had started a Junior Ring sponsored by I.B.M. Ring 60, and wanted young magicians to have an opportunity to experience everything that a full magic convention would have. There was one of everything: one lecture, one magic show, one magic dealer. And John Novak, a magician and escape artist who worked for Louis Berkie at the Fun ‘N Magic Shop in San Antonio, brought a few things from the shop and auctioned them off.
That tiny auction grew each year until it got so big that the rest of the mini-convention was canceled and the auction became a full-day stand-alone affair. I was proud to be the primary auctioneer.
Next year 2025, will be the 50th anniversary of what is now known as, “The World-Famous Austin Magic Auction!” Plan to join us as we celebrate with one of the biggest and best magic auctions ever to be held! Go to AustinMagicAuction.com and put your email on the list for the latest news and information.
