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Will Goldston's Easy Road to Magic: in seven lessons (used)Will GoldstonSoftcover hole punched. Probably had a string through the holes which is missing. On the cover the name Stanton Carlisle is written with a ballpoint pen. Likely this copy belonged to Stanton Carlisle at some point. Cover somewhat damaged and torn at the spine. For details on the content see the digital edition. | $150 to wish list |
Will Goldston's Easy Road to Magic: in seven lessonsWill GoldstonFrom the introduction:
The ideal way of learning magic is, it almost goes without saying, to obtain lessons from a magician who is not only a skilful performer but who has also the gift of teaching. The number of such magicians is small. Skilful performers there are in plenty; but the gift of teaching is a rare one. Many a man knows his subject thoroughly, yet cannot impart his knowledge to others.
This ideal way is therefore a difficult one. The learner has first to find an efficient instructor. He may be able to do so if he lives in or near one of the great cities. But if not he will... | $10 to wish listPDF |
Will Goldston's Card System of Exclusive Magical Secrets (used)Will GoldstonHardcover in landscape bound with string. This copy is in excellent condition. For details on the content see the digital edition. | $150 to wish list |
Will Goldston's Card System of Exclusive Magical SecretsWill GoldstonContents:
- CARD TRICKS
- A Forcing Pack which can be Shuffled
- The Card on Tape
- A Card Changing Stand
- A Trick with Giant Cards
- COIN TRICKS
- A New Coin Box
- A New Stack of Coins
- A New Coin Vanish
- The Travelling Farthings
- The Chinese Coin Trick
- The Linked Coins
- The Newest X-Ray Block
- CLOCK TRICKS
- The Tell-Tale Clock
- The Clock Maker
- The Vanishing Clock
- HANDKERCHIEF TRICKS
- The Burned and Restored Handkerchief
- A Handkerchief and a Bottle of Ink
- Thought Reading with Silk Handkerchiefs
- The Newest Matter Through Matter
- Improved Pistol to Vanish a Handkerchief
- A Mysterious...
| $12 to wish listPDF |
Who's Who in MagicWill Goldston
There are not many short biography compilations in magic and this one by Goldston is still one that is being consulted frequently. The most extensive one is by Bart Whaley (Who's Who in Magic) but while Whaley covers many more magicians he does not include portraits. Goldston includes many portraits of magicians and his biographical sketches can sometimes be much more extensive than in other such compilations. Goldston groups magicians as professionals, semi-professionals, and amateurs. He covers 90 professional magicians, 50 semi-professional magicians, and 69 amateurs.
1st edition 1934, 114 pages; PDF... | $20 to wish listPDF |
Tricks You Should KnowWill GoldstonThis book is the trick section of Sensational Tales of Mystery Men. Goldston felt that the trick section was the part that magicians would be most interested in and thus made it available as a separate book.
And a very good title too! The magician who does not know the contents of this volume will soon be behind the times.
- Introduction
- The Newest Chinese Bat
- The Thought Reader
- Performing Matches
- The Best Penetrating Coin
- A Borrowed Handkerchief Burned
- A Mysterious Match
- Swallowing A Solid Wand
- Which Cigarette?
- The Vanished Egg
- The Expanding Egg
- The Newest Card Changing Box
- The G. W. Hunter Pull
- Cigarettes...
| $4.50 to wish listPDF |
Tricks that MystifyWill GoldstonExcerpt from the introduction:
In this book I deal with the latest and best small tricks. The majority of the professional conjurers to-day are presenting small tricks in their programmes. I have been asked by subscribers not to include illusions requiring stage traps, but to confine myself to secrets of tricks that can be done by the average performer, and the apparatus not to be costly.
I have taken care to meet with the wishes of all subscribers to this book. I have omitted complicated tricks and combinations likely to fog an audience. The magician to-day understands that he must be... | $9.50 to wish listPDF |
Tricks of the MastersWill GoldstonThis book covers a mix of stage illusions, manipulations, and parlor tricks. It is very nicely illustrated even featuring a couple of photos.
Paul Fleming wrote:
Will Goldston has been writing books on magic for many years. He is probably the most popular of magical authors, judged by the number of books he has written and the extent of their sales; for his writings on the subject now number several dozen titles, and a good many of them have run through a number of printings. We are somewhat at a loss to account for this popularity, since we personally have never regarded Mr. Goldston as our best teacher... | ★★★★★ $5 to wish listPDF |
Tricks and IllusionsWill GoldstonThis book has an excellent illusion section, a decent chapter about escape artistry and also a fairly large trick section with all kinds of routines with cards, silks, ... The really good part are the illusions. You will find several clever ideas. Will Goldston was himself a craftsman and illusion builder. He can therefore write with authority.
1st edition, 1908?, George Routledge & Sons, London; 259 pages.
- Introduction
PART I - TRICKS
- New Card Catching on Plate
- The Floating Disc Mystery
- The Devo Torn Card
- The Hildyard Target and Cage Illusion
- The Handkerchief and Sword
- A Dancing...
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The Young Conjurer Part 2Will GoldstonIt is a bit odd to teach productions of lighted cigarettes in a book for young conjurers, but perhaps those were the days when smoking was considered good for you.
From the introduction:
That brings me to another point. Don't be afraid of a mistake, and don't allow yourself to be discouraged by one. The best men make mistakes sometimes. Still, it is as well to guard against mistakes by rehearsals. Take one trick at a time and go over it many times until you know it thoroughly. Then - and not till then - go on to another trick. In this way you will soon build up quite a little store of... | $5 to wish listPDF |
The Young Conjurer Part 1Will GoldstonFrom the introduction:
Before the young conjurer sets out to try and entertain his friends he should first devote a little time every day to practice. I always believe in a little practice every day. Every trick that one is going to present should be rehearsed over and over again until one is practically tired of it. When the conjurer knows a trick in that way he finds, when he is presenting it to an audience, that he is by no means tired of it, because the trick goes so well that he is bound to like it and it probably becomes one of his favourite tricks.
- How to give a Conjuring Entertainment
...
| $5 to wish listPDF |
Stage IllusionsWill GoldstonFrom the introduction:
This is an age in which, in order to succeed, one must specialise. One conjuror will specialise in thought-reading tricks, another in silent illusion acts, another in sleight-of-hand tricks, another in the presentation of what I may call “large apparatus” tricks. This book will appeal primarily to illusionists, but I fancy that other magicians will find that it is well worth perusal. I have heard of illusionists who have produced some of their best effects by merely enlarging small sleight-of-hand tricks, and I have no doubt that some sleight-of-hand performers... | ★★★★★ $6 to wish listPDF |
Simple Conjuring TricksWill GoldstonAs the title suggests, this is a collection of simple magic tricks, stunts, and experiments separated in two parts. The first part teaches tricks which require no special apparatus, the second part teaches tricks which require some gimmick or apparatus.
- Introduction
- Part I: Tricks Without Apparatus
- The Movable Fetters
- A String Trick
- The Paper Loops
- How To Make A Paper Tree
- Making A Basket
- The Magic String
- The Wonderful Die
- The Broken Match
- Picking Up The Ring
- The Penny And The Paper
- A Match Trick
- Balancing The Penny
- The Revolving Penny
- Flicking The Card
- Squeezing The Shilling
...
| $8 to wish listPDF |
Sensational Tales of Mystery Men (used)Will Goldston
This is the Magico reprint of this classic title. Hardcover without dustjacket in excellent condition. For the content see the digital edition. | $20 to wish list |
Sensational Tales of Mystery MenWill GoldstonStories and anecdotes of the Who's Who of magic in the early 20th century. Several are about Houdini.
- An Introduction
- Foreword
- The Truth About The Zancigs
- The Tragedy Of Hanco
- When G. W. Hunter Dried Up
- How Denny And Will Goldston Escaped Gaol
- The Truth Of Horace Goldin's Arrest
- The Cornells And Their Ghastly Publicity Stunt
- The Strangeness Of Lafayette
- Dante Perplexed
- Dante's Experience In Russia
- Muller The Mystic
- Was Chung Ling Soo Murdered?
- A Handcuff Escape That Went Wrong
- Ceeley And The Naked Lady
- Frank Van Hoven's Tragic Failure
- Frank Van Hoven And A Fellow Artist's Wife
- Wishart And The...
| ★★★★★ $6 to wish listPDF |
Secrets of MagicWill GoldstonThis was Goldston's first magic publication, a mix of magic, some juggling, and a bit of other variety arts such as shadowgraphy and chapeaugraphy.
From the Introduction:
To make this work more attractive than the general run of books on Magic, the following articles have been introduced: - Hypnotism, Smoke Pictures, Hand Shadowgraphy, Elocution, Art of Making-up, Hoop Rolling, Ventriloquism, Stage Illusions, Lock Tricks, etc., in conjunction with Conjuring.
- Introduction
- The Wedding Ring passed through a Handkerchief
- The Candle and Handkerchief Illusion
- The Devo Card Trick
- The...
| ★★★★★ $10 to wish listPDF |
Secrets of Famous IllusionistsWill Goldston
- Foreword
- Chapter I The Truth About Chung Ling Soo
- Chapter II The Romantic Story Of Carl Hertz
- Chapter III The Great Lafayette - The Most Hated Magician
- Chapter IV Maskelyne And The Psycho Sensation
- Chapter V Houdini As I Knew Him
- Chapter VI Did Houdini Fail?
- Chapter VII Some More New Facts About Houdini
- Chapter VII De Kolta's "Vanishing Lady" Secret
- Chapter IX The Truth About The Indian Rope Trick
- Chapter X Tricks Of Bogus Mediums
- Chapter XI Why I Am A Spiritualist
- Chapter XII Mediums I Have Sat With
- Chapter XIII Magic And Crime
- Chapter XIV The Great Kellar
- Chapter XV Howard Thurston's Rise To Riches
- Chapter XVI The...
| ★★★★★ $6 to wish listPDF |
More Tricks and PuzzlesWill GoldstonFrom the introduction:
I will introduce this book by a little story told to me by a certain well-known conjurer. It concerns an experience of his while on tour in the north. By some mischance his luggage, including all the elaborate apparatus used by him in his tricks and illusions, went astray on the railway. He telegraphed for it up and down the line, but without result. For the time being it was hopelessly lost. What was to be done? The position was as awkward as it well could be. The bills announcing his performance had been out several days. Most of the reserved seats had already been... | $5 to wish listPDF |
More Modern Card TricksWill GoldstonFrom the introduction:
If the vote of magicians and their men audiences could be taken there is no doubt that card tricks would come out on top as the most popular tricks in the world. Go where you will, you can be certain of finding a pack of cards, and with these in his hands a finished performer can entertain an audience for hours. Therefore, I am inclined to think that "More Modern Card Tricks" will have a warm welcome from my readers.
I have included a number of original tricks in this section and some which, although not entirely new, are not generally known. I would specially point... | ★★★★★ $5 to wish listPDF |
More Exclusive Magical SecretsWill GoldstonThis is the second volume in the famous series of locked books by Will Goldston.
1st edition 1921; original 492 pages; PDF 275 pages.
Table of Contents
- Contents
- Introduction to "More Exclusive Magical Secrets."
Part I. Pocket Tricks
- The Cut String Restored
- A Cigarette Trick
- The Improved Chinese Bat
- The Mysterious Coins
- The Travelling Handkerchief
- An Easy Way of Making Money
- The Elusive Scent Bottle
- The Cigarette Vanisher
- The Magical Knife
- The Mallet
- Think of a Card
- Will Goldston's Disappearing Knot
- The Missing Money
- The Match Through the Tube
- The Conjurer's Will Power
...
| ★★★★★ $20 to wish listPDF |
Modern Card Tricks Without ApparatusWill GoldstonHere you will find more than 50 card tricks including easy as well as difficult ones. The book includes a number of tricks from other prominent books. For example, we find tricks borrowed from Erdnase's Expert at the Card Table, and the last section is a partial translation of Kartenkünste by Ottokar Fischer.
From the introduction:
An interesting little story is told by one of the old French kings. He asked a courtier to join in a game of cards. "Sire," replied the courtier, "I do not play cards." The king shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Then you are preparing for yourself a sad old age."
There is truth in this dictum even at... | $5 to wish listPDF |
Magician Annual 1911-12Will GoldstonThis book has a broad range of contents, from stage juggling, to the history of playing cards (a really nice article), pocket tricks, illusions, biographical information, ... It is in the very same style as the other Magician Annuals. If you enjoyed those you will surely love this one, too.
1st edition, 1912, London; 99 pages.
- Will Goldston, A Terrible Experience, Hohn Keyman
- Original Patter for Original Minds, Woolfe Clyne
- A Liner on Fire at Sea. An Original Lightning Painting Effect, Fred Velasco
- Stage Juggling, Fred Velasco
- Tricks for 1911-12, Jay Gee
- The Magic Reel of Cotton,...
| ★★★★★ $7 to wish listPDF_facsimile |
Magician Annual 1910-11Will GoldstonThis book is filled with a variety of interesting articles, from trick descriptions to patter suggestions, from biographical information to theory. Among others there is a trick contribution by Houdini. This book is layed out beautifully, almost like a magazine. Overall a very nice and interesting book to read.
1st edition, 1910, The Magician Limited, London; 106 pages.
- Index
- The Editor to his Readers
- The Scribe, The Failure, and The Magician JOHN KEYMAN
- Amateur Conjurer's Accessories GEORGE JOHNSON
- The Magic of Suggestion PROFESSOR HOFFMANN
- New Patter for Popular Problems WOOLFE CLYNE
- Wine v. Water CHRIS VAN BERN
- Telepathic...
| ★★★★★ $7 to wish listPDF_facsimile |
Magician Annual 1909-10Will GoldstonThis book describes quite a number of card tricks and has a wonderful account of some of Buatier de Kolta's illusions, for example his famous "de Kolta Chair". An interesting story evolves around the cartoon on page 62, which depicts a famous magician's wife in a not very favorable light. Goldston released later a new edition which had this cartoon removed. Goldston also tried to buy back all the first editions but was not quite successful.
1st edition, 1910, London; 100 pages.
- The Editor to his Readers, Will Goldston
- An Interview and an Appreciation, Henry Byatt
- Apparatus for Amateurs,...
| ★★★★★ $7 to wish listPDF_facsimile |
Magician Annual 1908-9Will GoldstonThis is the second volume in Goldston's Magician Annual series. It has a nice little section on Chapeaugraphy and a large section on patents. You will find there all kind of improvements to various apparatuses. And there is biographical information and recollections of famous magicians as well as a lot of photos of celebrities.
1st edition, 1909, London; 96 pages.
- The Editor to His Readers, Will Goldston
- Comedy Jugglers, The Great Weiland
- Famous Magicians, Robert Ankele
- Living Marionettes, Leah Laurie
- Card Tricks, Dr. Elliott
- My First Appearance on the Stage as a Magician, W. N. Winget
- Episodes...
| ★★★★★ $7 to wish listPDF_facsimile |
Magician Annual 1907-8Will GoldstonThis was the first Magician Annual Will Goldston compiled and edited. It covers quite some ground. From juggling and optical illusions, to ventriloquism and palmistry. Of course you will find also magic illusions, tricks and patter. And if you want to read a little bit about hoop rolling, you can, too. These Magician Annuals are real fun to read. They are a great window into the past.
1st edition 1908, Gamage Ltd., London; 98 pages.
- The Editor to His Readers, Will Goldston
- Juggling Manipulations, Paul Cinquevalli
- Crayon Drawing for the Stage, J. F. Burrows
- Barrel and Packing-Case Tricks,...
| ★★★★★ $7 to wish listPDF_facsimile |
Magical Hints and Valuable InformationWill GoldstonProgrammes, ventriloquial dialogues, juggling, cartooning, paper folding, care of animals and birds.
Excerpt from the introduction:
The suggestions for suitable programmes for different occasions form a unique feature of this book. Many books of magic give away secrets of tricks but leave the reader to judge for himself which tricks should be shown to children, which to adults if children are present, which to an audience of adults, and so on. By suggesting the right tricks for different occasions I trust I have helped some readers along the difficult road to success. After all, if the road... | $9.50 to wish listPDF |
Magic for the ForcesWill Goldston
- Preface
- The Penny And Box Lids
- Another Coin Trick
- Thought-Reading With Cards
- Sense Of Touch
- Card Changes To A Rose
- The Fountain Of Cards
- The Ribbons And Flag
- One From Fifty-Two
- A Thought-Reading Trick
- Passing A Thimble Through A Borrowed Silk Handkerchief
- The Deceptive Half-Crown
PDF 16 pages | $7 to wish listPDF |
Magazine of Magic Volume 9 (Apr 1921 - May 1922)Will Goldston144 pages
- The Magazine of Magic - Volume 9 - bound volume cover and Index
- Index
- The Magazine of Magic - Volume 9, Number 1 - April, 1921 - 20 pages
- Contents
- Dr. "S."A.M. Wilson Objects!
- Cartoon - A. M. Wilson in Magic World
- Our Views
- The Great Maurice [with photograph]
- News Notes and Notices
- The Magicians' Club
- Magicians' Club Dinner to Compeer and Mrs. H. Rea Fitch
- Our Welcome by the Magicians' Club
- Who? - Mr. & Mrs. H. Rea Fitch
- Accepted for Review - Geoffrey Clayton
- The Magic Art - Donald Holmes
- Herbert Brooks Retires from Magic
- American...
| $20 to wish listPDF_facsimile |
Magazine of Magic Volume 8 (Oct 1920 - Mar 1921)Will Goldston148 pages
- The Magazine of Magic - Volume 8 - bound volume cover and Index
- Index
- The Magazine of Magic - Volume 8, Number 1 - October, 1920 - 24 pages
- Contents
- Our Views
- Oswald Williams - article & photograph
- News Notes and Notices
- The Magicians' Club
- Opening Night of the Season
- New Members
- Mediums and Magic - Harry Price
- Tricks, Tips & Talk
- The Newest Rising Cards - Invented by Will Goldston
- Silver from Copper
- Which Pencil is in the Box? - Charles W. Seers
- The Alan Adair Billiard Ball Stand
- The Mysterious Lemon -...
| $10 to wish listPDF_facsimile |
Magazine of Magic Volume 7 (Dec 1919 - May 1920)Will Goldston
- The Magazine of Magic - Volume 7 - bound volume cover and Index
- Index
- The Magazine of Magic - Volume 7, Number 1 - December, 1919 - 24 pages
- Contents
- Our Views
- Magic Must Flourish Again
- Will Goldston's More Exclusive Magical Secrets
- Welcome!
- Recent Publications - Geoffrey Clayton
- More Miscellaneous Magic - Percy Naldrett
- Original Mysteries for Magicians - Brunel White
- News Notes and Notices
- Back to Life - Guy K. Austin
- Tricks, Tips and Talk - Contributed by Arthur Ainslie, "Delveen", "Karnack", G. W. Hunter, "Yettmah", Will Goldston
- The New Bangle Trick
...
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Magazine of Magic Volume 6 (Jun 1917 - Nov 1917)Will Goldston
- The Magazine of Magic - Volume 6 - bound volume cover and Index
- Index
- The Magazine of Magic - Volume 6, Number 1 - June, 1917 - 16 pages
- Contents
- For the Soldiers - An Appeal by Will Goldston
- Our Views
- Correspondence
- from Hugh Herring
- from G. Clayton
- News Notes and Notices
- The Perpetual Almanac
- The Dissolving Cigar and Glass
- My Magical Pupils - Will Goldston
- Tricks, Tips and Talk - Contributed by C. Thompson, Anon., Will Goldston
- The New Four Ace Trick
- Telescopic Flag Rod
- The Tweezers Trick
- Humour as an Aid to...
| $10 to wish listPDF_facsimile |
Magazine of Magic Volume 5 (Dec 1916 - May 1917)Will Goldston
- The Magazine of Magic - Volume 5 - bound volume cover and Index
- Index
- The Magazine of Magic - Volume 5, Number 1 - December, 1916 - 16 pages
- Contents
- Magical Questions & Answers - A. Ainslie
- Our Views
- Cartoon - "Carlton" Taking a Call - Will Scott
- News Notes and Notices
- Tricks, Tips and Talk - Contributed by "Welshneck", E. E. Smith, Will Golston
- The New Production Chimneys - "Welshneck"
- The New Dove Pan - E. E. Smith
- New Patter for Popular Tricks
- Bundle of Wood from hat
- Reticules from hat
- Balls from hat
- Baby from...
| $10 to wish listPDF_facsimile |