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John Mulholland authored "The Art of Illusion". Although it was 160 pages of text in the hardcover version [shown left], it was issued in a special format so that it could fit into the shirtpockets of American soldiers in World War II [see left} and used by them as a recreation and diversion.

"The Art of Illusion" was also reissued as the popular book "Magic for Entertainment".

"Magic in the Making" was another of Mulholland's historical treastises on magic.

Essentially self-taught, Mulholland had never managed to obtain a degree of any type, but was recognized as perhaps the leading intellectual in magic in his time.

He edited the prestigious magical journal, "The Sphinx".

Mulholland gave up the editorshipof the Sphinx in 1953, and discontinued its publication.

Recent scholarship has authoritatively suggested that at the time, around the height of the Cold War, Mulholland in fact went to work for the CIA, responding to their invitation to teach the rules and art of deception for use in covert activities.

Mulholland's personal library of magic was one of the most comprehensive in history.