Magic & Conjuring: page 190

January 1953 - December 1953
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

385 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 18, Number 1 - January 1953 - 32 pages
1. With the Editor - Percy Abbott
1. Contents
2. Magical Card Finesse - Jerry Hornak
   • Sleights with Cards
     • A Rare Control
     • A Succeeding Control
     • Riffle Strip Control
     • Three Controls
       • Basic Move
       • 1 - Side Slip Action
       • 2 - Palm Slip Action
       • 3 - The Crimp Action
     • Ace Control
4. Remember Twenty-Two - Dr. Maurice
5. Some Magical Twists - V. C. Kitchen

January 1954 - December 1954
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

389 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 19, Number 1 - January 1954 - 32 pages
1. With the Editor - Mel
1. Contents
2. Ultra Four-Ace Trick - Billy Bell
2. Fifty-Fifty - S. Stern
   • Second Method
   • Suggestions for Preparing Props
4. Drum Head Tube Routine - James Reneaux
5. Simple Memorization
6. re: Goodliffe
6. re: Monk Watson
6. The Spider and the Pips - Lu Brant
8. Predicto - A Super Mental Card Test - Roxy
8. Some Patter in Rhyme
   • Dyeing or Color Changing
   • For Children's Shows
   • For Dyeing Other Colors ...

January 1955 - December 1955
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

385 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 20, Number 1 - January 1955 - 32 pages
2. Floating Handkerchief
3. Perfect Transpo-Card - Rovelli (Tenente Jose Silvestre)
4. Silks in Chick-A-Dee - Anthony Dunn
4. Useful Cigarette Sleights - Roxy
   • Number One
   • Number Two
   • Number Three
5. Another Torn Restored Newspaper - Wilford Hutchinson
5. Penetra - Roxy
6. Tricks of East Indian Magicians - Part 3 - Eddie Joseph
   • The Cups and Balls
     • The Sleights
     • The Routine
   • The Egg Bag
10. Handkerchief-Rope...

January 1956 - December 1956
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

389 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 21, Number 1 - January 1956 - 32 pages
1. With the Editor - Mel
1. Contents
2. Bank Night Supreme - Roxy
3. Aero Silks - Bert Douglas
4. Another Thumb Tie
   • Patter and Presentation
5. Canary Asrah - George Jo0hnstone
5. re: feather flower cleaning
6. A Rising Card Climax - Bert Douglas
6. Cards, Nuts and Bill
7. Rapid Flight Cards - Karson
7. A Tip, Magi and Hypnotists
8. Bitzemall Egg Bag - Roxy
8. Blindfold Magic
9. All Do As I Do
9. re: Mrs. Audrey Guido blindfold drive
10. Encyclopedia...

January 1957 - December 1957
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

93 pages - 3 Issues

1. The "Tops" - Volume 22, Number 1 - January 1957 - 32 pages
1. With the Editor - Percy Abbott
1. Contents
2. Reversed Six card Repeat (111) - Simplified Method - Roxy
3. Report On Chicago Magigals Assembly No. 9 - Sylvia Smith
3. re: The Great Levante
3. Dramatic Living and Dead Test
4. Thimbles, Thimbles - Again and Again - Roxy
4. re: Monk Watson
4. Ring-String - Ray Hutchinson
4. re: Chami Kkan
5. Amazing Card Miracles - Mahendra, The Mystic (F. B. Sterling)
   • Design for Wrist Watch Gimmic ...

Tops was the house organ of the Abbott Magic & Novelty Co. Percy Abbott, the company founder and owner, served as the magazine's first editor as well as publisher. In 1940, Howard "Mel" Melson, Abbott's staff artist, began editing Tops, and continued doing so until his death in 1957, when the magazine ceased publication. It was succeeded in 1961 by The New Tops.

January 1961 - December 1961
Abbott's Magic Manufacturing Company
Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

591 pages

1. Pre-Publication Advertising sheet
1. The New Tops - Volume 1, Number 1 - January 1961 - 56 pages
1. Cover - Sid Lorraine
2. Cover Portrait - Sid Lorraine
3. Contents
4. Sketch of Percy Abbott
5. In Memoriam - re: Percy Abbott - 1886-1960
6. Gone, But Never Forgotten ... Howard Melson - by Gene Gordon
8. From the Editor's Desk - Neil Foster
9. Doves Doves Doves - Jack LaWain
12. Oriental Cabinets - W. W. Durbin
14. Snap It - Mike Miller
16. Tops & Bottoms - Don Alan
    • How to Make a Million...

January 1962 - December 1962
& Tops 1962 Trick Annual
Abbott's Magic Manufacturing Company
Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

605 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 2, Number 1 - January 1962 - 48 pages
1. Cover - Werner "Dorny" Dornfield
2. Letters to the Editor
3. From the Editor's Desk - Neil Foster
3. Contents
4. Cover Portrait - "Dorny" Werner C. Dornfield - by Frances Ireland Marshall
6. Subtle Problems You Will Do - John Braun & Stewart Judah
   • The Matches, The Silk, and Poof!
7. The Judah "Four Aces"
8. A Royal Marriage - Joseph M. White
9. Four Change Cigarettes To Cards - Allen...

January 1963 - December 1963
Abbott's Magic Manufacturing Company
Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

597 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 3, Number 1 - January 1963 - 44 pages
1. Cover - Miss America and James Steele
2. Routines & Ideas - Neil Foster
3. Poet's Corner - Marie Antoinette Dornfield
   • Happy New Year!
3. Tops Photo Quiz & Answer to Last Month's Photo Quiz
3. Contents
4. Cover Portrait - James Steele
5. Final Curtain
   • Ben Chavez - by Neil Foster
6. Subtle Problems You Will Do - John Braun & Stewart Judah
   • Judah Monte
8. It's a Mystery to Me - Clarke "The...

January 1964 - December 1964
& Tops 1964 Trick Annual
Abbott's Magic Manufacturing Company
Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

659 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 4, Number 1 - January 1964 - 44 pages
1. Cover - Robert Orben
2. Tribute Page for John Fitzgerald Kennedy
3. Tops Silver Anniversary
3. Tops Anniversary Contest
3. Contents
4. Cover Portrait - Robert Orben - by Jack Bolter
6. It's a Mystery to Me - Clarke "The Senator" Crandall
8. The Collector's Page - poster - Harry Houdini - King of Cards
9. Entre Nous - Dorny (Werner Dornfield)
   • Prestidigitorial Pot Pouri
10. Poet's Corner...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

637 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 5, Number 1 - January 1965 - 48 pages
1. Cover - Walter Zaney Blaney and Joyce
1. Contents
2. Cover Portrait - Walter Zaney Blaney - by Dave Hoy
3. Magic on Today - Neil Foster
4. The Al Wheatley [Chop Chop] I Knew - Jay Marshall
5. Final Curtain
   • Edward M. Massey
6. The Collector's Page - photo - Cardini
7. Entre Nous - Dorny (Werner Dornfield)
8. Final Curtain
   • Milt Levy
8. Toots from the Calliope - L. E. Roba Collins
9. Fox Tales - Karrell Fox
9. Poet's Corner - Marie Dornfield
   • Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

631 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 6, Number 1 - January 1966 - 56 pages
1. Cover - Toreno & Guro
4. Cover Portrait - Toreno & Guro - by Finn Huger
5. From the Editor's Desk - Neil Foster
5. Contents
6. It's a Mystery to Me - Clarke "The Senator" Crandall
8. For Women Only - Frances Ireland Marshall
10. The Collector's Page - poster - Kar-Mi - Selma
11. Entre Nous - Dorny (Werner Dornfield)
    • Dear Professor - Prof. S. C. Uttlebutt
12. Tops Photo Quiz & Answer to Last Month's Photo Quiz
12. Poet's Corner - Marie Antoinette Dornfield
    • Happiness ... Is Being...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

639 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 7, Number 1 - January 1967 - 56 pages
1. Cover - John Daniel
5. From the Editor's Desk - Neil Foster
5. Tops Picture Museum (See Back Cover) - The Great Blackstone
5. Contents
6. Cover Portrait - Jon Daniel's World of Fantasy - by Neil Foster
8. It's a Mystery to Me - Clarke "The Senator" Crandall
10. Patter & Presentation - Gene Gordon
    • Patter for Die Box
    • From the Stuart Cramer Notebook
      • Patter for Torn & Restored Newspaper
      • Patter for the Money Maker
11. Letter to the Editor - by Windy Higgins...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

682 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 8, Number 1 - January 1968 - 56 pages
1. Cover - Edward Marlo
6. Cover Portrait - Edward Marlo ... The Man - by Jimmy Nuzzo
1. Harold Martin Testimonial - J. Gary Bontjes
1. Contents
2. It's a Mystery to Me - Clarke "The Senator" Crandall
6. Deep Sleight Technique - Edward Marlo
   • Double Stop (Marlo Drop Sleight)
   • The Four Ace Stop
   • An Observation
7. Tops Sends Get-Well Wishes To
   • Don Sweet
   • Thomas P. Molloy
8. Fox Tales - Karrell Fox
   • 5 to 2 & 3 Dollar Bills gag
9. For Women Only - Frances...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

609 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 9, Number 1 - January 1969 - 52 pages
1. Cover - Dick Oslund
3. Contents
4. Cover Portrait - Dick Oslund - by Dennis R. Loomis
   • A Day with Dick Oslund's "Fun and Fantasy" - Rev. Robert Olson
7. Sid Lorraine's Tip of the Month
   • "Hair Rope"
8. It's a Mystery to Me - Clarke "The Senator" Crandall
12. Correction - ad for "The Professional Technique for Magicians"
13. Johnstone's Column - By George [Johnstone]
    • re: Sorcar
17. Duke's Crazy Page - Duke Stern
    • patter in rhyme for 'Give Away' card - Duke Stern ...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

627 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 10, Number 1 - January 1970 - 56 pages
1. Cover - Hans-Gerhard Stumpf
2. Cover Portrait - Hans-Gerhard Stumpf - by Neil Foster
3. Contents
4. Wrist Turn Passes - Edward Marlo
8. Let's Make a Date - re: Combined Chicago I.B.M. and S.A.M. Magic Show - Neil Foster
9. Eddie's Miracle Rollers - Eddie Joseph
14. Academy of Magical Arts Awards
15. Sid Lorraine's Chatter - Sid Lorraine
    • reviews
      • Colour Tape - Johnny Ould
      • The Sikari Hand Flash Pot - Johnny Ould
      • The Sikari Shooting Wand - Johnny Ould
      • The...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

657 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 11, Number 1 - January 1971 - 48 pages
1. Cover - Eddie Joseph
3. Contents
4. Cover Portrait - The Josephs - Eddie and Sarah
6. Sid Lorraine's Tip of the Month
   • nutmeg grinder as cigarette holder - Paul Fishman
7. It's a Mystery to Me - Clarke "The Senator" Crandall
11. Conjuring with Cards - Nick Trost
    • A Prelude to Oil and Water
12. Subject: Summer Resorts - Dave Seebach
13. Gospel Magic - Rev. Robert E. Olson
    • Squaring the Circle - David Sigaful
    • Silk Caddy or A Changed Heart
14. Sid Lorraine's...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

657 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 12, Number 1 - January 1972 - 52 pages
1. Cover - James Hagy
5. Contents
6. Cover Portrait - James Hagy - by Neil Foster
7. Conjuring with Cards - Nick Trost
   • Color Prediction with Three Spectators
8. Gospel Magic - Rev. Robert E. Olson
   • The Value of Vacation Bible School - Part One
9. Out of My Mind - Looking Into Things Mental and Psychic - Micky Hades
   • Mental Mandate
11. Sid Lorraine's Chatter - Sid Lorraine
    • What's New
      • Another Card Session with Peter Kane - Peter Kane ...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

666 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 13, Number 1 - January 1973 - 52 pages
1. Cover - Ed Mishell
7. [two] Comic Trickartoon - Ed Harris
7. Contents
8. Cover Portrait - Ed Mishell - by Leslie Guest
9. On The Spot - Ed Mishell
11. Sid Lorraine's Chatter - Sid Lorraine
    • reviews
      • Club 71 - now quarterly
      • Mystics - to cease publication
    • With The Dealers
      • Robert Nelson [NC] - list
      • Norm Osborn's Magical Trading Post
      • Cube in a Tube - Arthur Setterington
      • ring and string trick - Richard Durham
      • Double Feature - Sid Lorraine ...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster, Editor

641 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 14, Number 1 - January 1974 - 56 pages
1. Cover - Gale Martin & Harry Collins
7. Contents
8. In Profound Tribute - Cardini, November 11, 1973
9. Sid Lorraine's Chatter - Sid Lorraine
   • magazines
     • Abracadabra
     • Magick
     • Genii
     • Magigram
     • The Cauldron
     • The Pallbearers Review
     • Necromancer, Vol. 1, No. 2
     • New Pentagram
     • The Magician's Magazine, Nos. 3 & 4
     • M-U-M
     • Orben's Current Comedy
     • Magic Info
     • Calliope
   • Club Papers I Have Seen
     • Houdini-Gram ...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster, Editor

633 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 15, Number 1 - January 1975 - 52 pages
1. Cover - 'Monk' Watson & Bob Hope
7. Contents
8. My Pal, Bob Hope - by 'Monk' Watson
9. A Tribute to Howard Thurston - Series 8, Part 3 - Robert E. Olson
   • A Great Revolutionary
   • An Eight Hour Show
   • Only Hypnotized Women
   • Crushing a Woman - P. T. Selbit
12. Final Curtain
    • John J. DeVries
13. For Women Only - Frances Ireland Marshall
16. New Ways With Old Magic - Dr. Edmund E. Evans
18. Final Curtain
    • James E. Gemin
19. Magi-Go-Round
20. Golden Wedding Anniversary...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster, Editor

639 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 16, Number 1 - January 1976 - 54 pages
1. Cover - Kramien
7. Magical Musings - Esther Francis Olson
   • Good Night - The End
7. New Arrival
   • Master Joseph Scott Bialek born to John and Carol Bialey
7. Contents
8. Cover Portrait - Stan Kramien & Co. - No Time for Nostalgia! - by Don Arthur
10. Fox Tales - Karrell Fox
11. Conjuring with Cards - Nick Trost
    • Correction to "The 'Baby Hummer' Four-Ace Opener" - November, 1975 issue
    • Five by Five Mental Effect
12. This Business of Magic - Thomas Zoss ...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster, Editor

621 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 17, Number 1 - January 1977 - 60 pages
1. Cover - Richard & Maria Suey
9. Abbott's Magic Talent Contest
9. Contents
10. Cover Portrait - Richard & Maria Suey - by Neil Foster
12. Out of My Mind - Looking Into Things Mental and Psychic - Micky Hades
    • book test using "Mathematics, Its Magic and Mystery" - Dirk Minnebo
13. Sid Lorraine's Chatter - Sid Lorraine
    • New Books and Tricks
      • The Original Houdini Scrapbook - Walter Gibson
      • Houdini, The Pictorial Life - Milbourne Christopher
      • Houdini -...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster, Editor

597 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 18, Number 1 - January 1978 - 52 pages
1. Cover - Harry Blackstone, Jr.
7. Contents
8. Cover Portrait - The Blackstone Magic Show - The Torch is Passed - Neil Foster
10. Tops Salutes Sid Lorraine on the Start of His 39th Year of - Sid Lorraine's Chatter - Sid Lorraine
    • In the Magazines
      • The New Pentagram
      • Mantra
      • Magic Thesaurus
      • Periodical for Collecting Conjurers
      • New Image L'Majik Satirica
      • The Pallbearers Review, final three issues
      • The Chronicles - new periodical
      • Magicana ...