Jim Steinmeyer is the author of many books on magic history and practice, including Los Angeles Times best seller Hiding the Elephant (2004) and The Glorious Deception (2006). He has created deceptions featured by magicians such as Doug Henning, David Copperfield, and Siegfried and Roy, and critically acclaimed illusions for Broadway hits Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, and Into the Woods.

Mike Caveney is a writer, collector, professional magician, and the publisher of over 50 books on the theory, practice, and history of magic. His biographical works include Kellar’s Wonders (2003) with Bill Miesel, and Carter the Great (1995). An avid collector and performer for over four decades, he has appeared onstage or on TV in more than 20 countries.

Ricky Jay, who has contributed the introduction to this book, is one of the world's great sleight of hand artists, and a distinguished actor, historian, and best-selling author. His Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women and Jay’s Journal of Anomalies were both New York Times "Notable Books of the Year," and he defined the terms of his art for The Cambridge Guide to American Theatre and Encyclopedia Britannica.

Noel Daniel si è laureata a Princeton e ha studiato a Berlino con una borsa del prestigioso programma Fulbright. Dopo il Master’s degree a Londra ha lavorato come direttrice di una galleria di fotografia d’arte prima di dedicarsi all’editoria in veste di editor. Per TASCHEN ha curato i seguenti titoli: Le fiabe di Hans Christian Andersen, Le fiabe dei fratelli Grimm, Magic e The Circus.