Ian Baxter products: page 1

No prizes for guessing who it was that did more to popularize mentalism than anyone else. Certainly, a steady stream of impressive performers and writers have kept the kettle boiling over the years, but it was Theo Annemann who, beginning in the first half of the twentieth century, set the pace with ingenious methods and presentations that still influence material today.

He wrote: "It is my theory that any effect to be successful must first be founded upon a simple method, and then be performed with a direct, to-the-point presentation." Hard to disagree with a compelling narrative such as this.

Australia's...

A timely favorite for any magician with a deck of cards in hand is Think-Stop. With a popularity spanning decades, this absolute classic has attracted attention from virtually every known card expert of the 20th and 21st centuries. Practical additions and/or worthwhile improvements to this gem are rare indeed. However, this brand-new handling from Australian card man Ian Baxter easily meets that challenge.

Reviewer David Jones comments:

"The Stop Trick is a stunning card effect which has traditionally depended on the use of a psychological force and hence cannot be relied upon to work...

An approach to the Paul Curry classic "Out of this World".

Out Of This World, Paul Curry's timeless classic, gets a fresh look in this new manuscript from Australian card man Ian Baxter.

Years after its release, the trick retains its enduring popularity. No sleight of hand, an absence of moves demanding any form of dexterity, with attention to presentation steering the success of this baffling mystery every time. OOTW is a timeless gem. The August 1947 issue of Hugard's Magic Monthly, in a poll conducted at the time by Fred Braue, confirmed to the magic world then that this ingenious card mystery be given the mantle of the most...

Who among us has not heard of, seen, or performed The Princess Card Trick? For the record, it was conceived by Henry Hardin and was first made available way back in 1903. Mahatma magazine carried advertising for it and in the decades that followed, countless 'improvements' ended up in print.

It seems that not too many of these ideas were ever celebrated by the magical fraternity, and no wonder - with crazy fakes and gimmicks being introduced that almost drowned its popularity.

Fortunately, the original idea has remained unchanged which is why today, it is still regarded as a classic of card...

A new approach to the Stewart James classic Miraskill.

Theo Annemann's journal The Jinx, September 1936, was where Miraskill was first published. Subsequently reprinted in various books and magazines over the years, this Stewart James creation still baffles one and all. The years have not dulled the remarkable impact it can have on today's audiences.

Courtskill is a brand-new version of Miraskill. Australian card man Ian Baxter has concocted a totally new version, with some very distinct advantages.

Barely half the deck is used, trimming the performance time considerably, not to mention a surprise approach involving court...

A new approach to the Stewart James classic Simplicity Four Ace Trick.

First appearing in print in Ralph W. Hull's book More Eye Openers, Jean Hugard wasted no time in grabbing it for Encyclopedia Of Card Tricks; it also ended up in John Northern Hilliard's mammoth book Greater Magic, along with a number of other texts as well.

The straightforward plot involves the four Aces of the pack assembling in one heap, following a careful separation from other cards. Economy of movement is top of the list here, buoyed by an absence of sleights and very easy moves. Within reach of any card handler, beginner or expert.

And now, years down the track, Ian Baxter offers this...

A new approach to the Stewart James classic Pocketheral.

Stewart James (1908 - 1996) was known not just for an immense output of published effects, but his deliberate, somewhat humorous conferring of odd titles to various tricks. Pocketheral was certainly no exception, attracting the attention of, among others, Edward Marlo.

The Cardician, Marlo's celebrated book released back in 1953, included two very worthwhile variations of PTR. Marlo, along with many others, would doubtless have been amused by the name chosen for this one. Marlo's approach involved not twenty but ten cards being dealt in a row, a spectator being asked...

A new approach to the Stewart James classic Queer Quest.

Another Stewart James card mystery from the past, brought right up to date by Australian cardman Ian Baxter.

Queer Quest first appeared in The Jinx magazine back in 1938. Publisher Ted Annemann endorsed it immediately because this was obviously not just another card trick. Although the effect is far from new, three spectators each selecting a card with the performer locating them one at a time, Queer Quest stood out because of its simple method and straightforward presentation.

Eighty-five years down the track and Q.Q. is now totally revamped, with easier handling...

A lovely print-and-perform trick.

Who in magic, beginner or expert, has not purchased, watched, or performed that perennial "Gone To Lunch" or as it is sometimes called, "The Indian Rope Trick"? This magic shop favourite has been making the rounds for decades and is still a consistent best-seller for dealers all over the world.

Would you believe, Australian card man Ian Baxter has for years been performing his own version that tops the original? Baxter put this together back in the 1990's and sold it through limited dealerships. Yes, the 'Gone To Lunch' theme is fully intact, but there...

An Australian sleight of hand monthly magazine
Barry Govan & Ian Baxter, editors
Published in Victoria, Australia from July, 1974 through April, 1982 (Vol. 7, No. 10); 54 pages in Volume 1

1. Volume 1, Number 1, July, 1974, 4 pages - cover has drawing of W. C. Fields
1. The Blueroom - introductory editorial
2. Your Card My Card - Anton York
2. Thumb Flip Flourish - Barry Govan
3. Blueprint In-Print - Ian Baxter reviews:
   • Harry Lorayne's "Rim Shots"
3. Back Clip Coins - Barry Govan
4. Trio Surprise - Ian Baxter

5. Volume 1, Number 2, August, 1974, 4 pages - no cover
5. The Blueroom - editorial comments ...

Includes an extra manuscript "The Magic of Tom Gagnon".

An Australian sleight of hand monthly magazine
Barry Govan & Ian Baxter, editors
Published in Victoria, Australia from July, 1974 through April, 1982 (Vol. 7, No. 10); 75 pages in Volume 2

1. Volume 2, Number 1, July, 1975, 6 pages - cover has drawing of Laurel & Hardy
1. The Blueroom & A Thought - editorial comments
2. The Unwritten Prediction - Edward Marlo (USA)
4. Gadabout Balls - Barry Govan
5. Blueprint In-Print - Ian Baxter reviews:
   • Nick Trost's "Expert Gambling Tricks with Cards, Part One"
   • Nick Trost's "Expert Gambling Tricks with Cards, Part...

An Australian sleight of hand monthly magazine
Barry Govan & Ian Baxter, editors; 52 pages in Volume 3

1. Volume 3, Number 1, July, 1976, 4 pages - cover has drawing of a monster with cards
1. The Blueroom - editorial comments
2. Coin Sandwich - Barry Govan
2. Blueprint In-Print - Ian Baxter reviews:
   • "The Complete Mike Rogers"
3. The Dice of Zohar - Tom Gagnon (USA)

5. Volume 3, Number 2, August, 1976, 4 pages - no cover
5. The Blueroom - editorial comments
6. The E.R. Thimble Routine - Errol Robinson, described by Murray Cooper
8. Blueprint In-Print - reviews:
   • James B. Alfredson...

An Australian sleight of hand monthly magazine
Barry Govan & Ian Baxter, editors; 52 pages in Volume 4

1. Volume 4, Number 1, July, 1977, 5 pages - cover has drawing of Lou Costello and Boris Karloff
1. The Blueroom - editorial comments
2. Variations on a Theme - Extracting a deck of cards from it's case - Murray Cooper & Ian Baxter
3. One on the Way Down Cut - Tom Gagnon (USA)
3. Blueprint In-Print - reviews:
   • Ronnay's "Cardorama" packet trick
   • Ronnay's "Multi Colour Card Change Climax" packet trick
4. Double Impact in Red and Blue - Franz Rosensteiner (Magic Ronnay) (Austria)
4. cartoon ...

An Australian sleight of hand monthly magazine
Barry Govan & Ian Baxter, editors through Issue Number 5
Murray Cooper & Gerry McCreanor, new editors starting with Issue Number 6; 47 pages in Volume 5

1. Volume 5, Number 1, July, 1978, 4 pages
1. The Cardsharps Apprentice - Barry Govan
3. Patter for ... The Cardsharps Apprentice
3. Blueprint In Print - Ian Baxter reviews:
   • Paul Harris' "Supermagic"
4. The Blueroom - editorial comments

5. Volume 5, Number 2, August, 1978, 4 pages
5. Control Ace Transpo - Derek Martin
6. Blueprint In Print - Ian Baxter reviews:
   • Harry Lorayne's "The Card Classics of...

1. Volume 6, Number 1, July, 1979, 4 pages
1. Impossible Coin to Pocket - Bob Chesbro
2. Blueprint In Print - Ian Baxter reviews:
   • Harry Lorayne's "Quantum Leaps"
3. Crooked Dice - continued
4. The Blueroom - editorial comments

5. Volume 6, Number 2, August, 1979, 4 pages
5. Hocus Focus - Barry Govan
6. Crooked Dice - continued
7. Blueprint In Print - reviews:
   • Gerard Majax's "Secrets of the Card Sharps"
   • Jerry Mentzer's "Card Cavalcade Finale"
8. The Blueroom - editorial comments

9. Volume 6, Number 3, September, 1979, 4 pages
9. Flip - Errol Robinson
10. Marlo Plus
11. Blueprint In Print - Murray Cooper...

1. Volume 7, Number 1, July, 1980, 4 pages - Phil Goldstein Special Issue
1. Red Uprising - Phil Goldstein
2. Newsworthy - Phil Goldstein
3. Split Octet - Phil Goldstein
4. The Blueroom - editorial comments

5. Volume 7, Number 2, August, 1980, 6 pages
5. The Mysterious Cross of India - Daryl
8. Think Ace - Ray Grismer
9. Blueprint In Print - Murray Cooper reviews:
   • Ray Grismer's "Shorty"
   • Ray Grismer's "Handy"
   • Ray Grismer's "Thirty"
   • Ray Grismer's "Loopy"
   • Ray Grismer's "Shorty"
   • Ray Grismer's "Charts" lecture notes
9. Blueprint Review - Murray Cooper reviews:
   • Phil Goldstein's...

To all magicians, amateur and professional - here is a loaded question:

Have you ever been bored silly watching a magician perform a spelling trick?

This is contentious and very obviously axiomatic. Quoting from the Preface of his new manuscript, Australian card man Ian Baxter comments: "Unfortunately, spelling effects in card magic hold the onerous title of being the most laborious, boring presentations imaginable."

This is the point at issue - boredom setting in, thanks to the tedium of endless counting and spelling, usually propped up with trivial patter. Such effects are simply...

Ian Baxter’s first book, first published in 1970. Card men everywhere enthused about the contents and the endorsements it carried from the likes of Dai Vernon, Ed Marlo, Card Mondor, Robert Parrish, Jon Racherbaumer and others, are testament to the quality of content. Alton Sharpe wrote the Introduction.

Ten reputation making card miracles.

"The material is not only interesting, but clever and workable. Yes, l recommend it." - Edward Marlo

"Ian Baxter is a creative and skillful artist." - Dai Vernon

"After what I have seen of the contents, I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the book. What I have seen is really impressive." - Jon Racherbaumer

"I must say l will use...

From the introduction by David Jones:

Five old chestnuts from the literature of card magic which were given the Baxter 'treatment', resulting in streamlined handlings and giving these venerable plots a breath of fresh air.

Underhanded Overhand is an extremely well finessed handling of the old ruse of appearing to have the entire deck shuffled with each half being shuffled independently.

The Cross Cut Force has been around since the 1920's and has remained virtually unchanged ever since. It is a simple move, but difficult to perform convincingly. Ian has taken another tack and by slightly changing the choreography of the move,...

Ian delights in finding forgotten gems in classical card literature, which he then refines and updates for modern day audiences. In this manuscript, you will find a further five effects which have received Ian's careful study and are sure to delight both you and your spectators.

In Miraskill Detour Ian has taken the classic Miraskill and turned it into a totally impromptu and self working mystery, while in the process managing to streamline the procedure and still maintain the strong impact of the original routine.

MBJ Echo is a re-working of an old Henry Christ trick, simple both in effect...

Five of Baxter’s best with cards – all impromptu, all straightforward, all within reach of the average card man. Included is Easy Going Triumph, which puts the famous Vernon effect into an even more convincing mode and not a sleight in sight.

Direct and clean effects achieved by simple methods. With an introduction by Charles Gauci.

• Shared Sandwich
• Staying In Touch
• Rag
• Coin Spell
• Easy Going Triumph

1st edition 2018, 16 pages.

A sparkling assortment of card mysteries from Ian Baxter, five in each of three manuscripts. Introductions to all three are from David Jones, who very keenly endorses each and every effect. If you are into card magic, these are not to be missed.

Originally launched as "Australia's Only Sleight Of Hand Monthly" and published between 1974 and 1982, The Blueprint still retains that claim today. Editors Barry Govan, Ian Baxter, Murray Cooper and Gerry McCreanor churned out a much-discussed journal that featured contributions from the likes of Ed Marlo, Jon Racherbaumer, Tom Gagnon, Dan Tong, Ray Grismer, Phil Goldstein, Jeff Busby, Jerry Mentzer, Harry Lorayne, et al. For the Close Up performer, absolutely certain to please.

The Blueprint was started by Barry Govan and Ian Baxter and taken over for the last two volumes by Murray Cooper and Gerry McCreanor. It ran from July 1974 to April 1981,...