Content Overview

Click on the relevant FAQ to download the PDF. What’s in the collection? Is it possible to visit the collection? When did Davenports introduce the Demon Series of magic? How does the family tree fit together? How long was Davenports at each trading address? Where and what was the Crypt? How did the magic business start? Where did the name Lewis Davenport come from? What were the stages in Lewis Davenport’s performing career? Why was George Davenport known as Gilly Davenport? Is the family related to the American Davenport Brothers, the celebrated spiritualists?

The Davenport family and other collectors and historians have recreated their illustrated talks.

Search by performers, theatre, year etc.

Search by performers, theatre, year etc.

Photographs, letters, postcards, etc.

Look here for magic apparatus, magic sets and magic related items such as association pieces, trophies and badges for clubs.

This broad section covers many specialist areas such as automata, jokes, pop-up books and unusual clocks. It does not include puzzles.

The vast majority of the puzzles are mechanical puzzles rather than word or mathematical puzzles.

The collection is rich in items from Davenports and other magic suppliers, as well as catalogues from novelty wholesalers and retailers.

The articles cover a wide range of magic and entertainment history topics. The articles have been contributed by the Davenport family and other collectors and historians.

Mainly taken by the family from the 1930s onwards, the films include magic, magicians and entertainment from the UK and overseas.