Beatrice Phillpotts

In spite of the name, not really a book of spells, though some spells are included (and lead one to wonder how anyone could perform these rituals without feeling foolish). It's more a history of wizards, from the ancient to the modern, all the way up to Harry Potter. It's a superficial history, but enough for a basic introduction. For people more interested in a scholarly in-depth work, this is not what you want. The illustrations are stunning.