This is a digital edition of the first edition of this book. It has wonderful photos. The later edition in three volumes published by Magic Inc. replaced the photos with line drawings. The book captures Buckingham's manipulation moves and routines for billiard balls, coins, and thimbles. It has practical advice from a successful pro and is perhaps the finest book on this subject ever published.
When did you first become interested in Magic? Almost every magician is asked this question at one time or another, and the reply is usually, "Oh! when I was a boy at school."
It is doubtful if Geoffrey Buckingham had any thoughts in that direction as a schoolboy because he will tell you that he was well into his twenties before he was bitten by "the magic bug" - but then he was bitten good and hard. Born in 1902 into a musical family, his early years of practice were spent at the piano keyboard. At the age of eighteen, he was an assistant church organist with a passion for becoming an accomplished performer on that instrument.
Then, just a few years later, as a result of a casual introduction by a friend to Nelson Downs' book on coin manipulation, music gave way to magic almost overnight.
Following the usual period of "apprenticeship," Geoffrey was soon giving up to a dozen shows a week in the season, at dinners, concerts, and children's parties, in addition to following his regular employment as an engineering draughtsman. In this hard school, where one must be capable of giving a performance under almost any conditions, he acquired his extensive experience and knowledge of the business of magical entertainment. Always having a liking for hand magic, he was, during this time, almost unbeknown to the magical world, quietly building up his now famous manipulative act.
In 1949, having become interested for the first time in competitive magic, and the joys of a magical convention, he decided to attend the International Congress held that year in Amsterdam, and "have a go." The result - first prizes in two classes - manipulation and close-up magic, a feat so far unequaled at any International Congress. Then followed the American tour in 1950, as a member of Goodliffe's party of "Flying Sorcerers," and in 1951, he won the highest award magic has to offer, the International Grand Prix, in Paris.
Now having attained executive status in business, magic remains his absorbing interest in his free time. On the stage, Geoffrey Buckingham works alone. "Behind the scenes" he has a partner - his wife. With a knowledge and love of magic as great as his own, he includes in the act nothing that has not passed her severe but constructive criticism. She has always watched most of his rehearsals, and is now sometimes joined by their eight-year-old twin son and daughter, who, with characteristic disregard for parental fame, have been known to murmur, "Daddy! we saw how you did that one." Which only goes to show "IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK."
