John Ramsay
(Ayr, Scotland: 13th March 1877 - 16th Jan 1962)
Inspired by and learned from his mother who taught him a couple of simple tricks at age 7. Grocery store owner. Celebrated amateur close-up magician. British Ring Past President. 1946 Amsterdam International Magic Congress 2nd prize; 1947 Paris International Magic Congress 2nd prize in manipulation; 1949 FISM 2nd prize in manipulation, 1950 FISM 1st prize in close-up. Mentor of Andrew Galloway.
Bio section in Andrew Galloway, The Ramsay Legend (1969, 62pp; repr 1975; 2nd rev ed, 1985). See also Galloway, The Ramsay Classics (1978, 112pp) and The Ramsay Finale (1982, 86pp). And Victor Farelli's John Ramsay's Routine with Cups and Balls (1948, 88pp); John Ramsay's Cylinder and Coins (1948, 33pp), John Ramsay's Triple Restoration (1949, 21pp), and Four Little Beans (1952, 19pp). A 45-minute video-tape of Galloway presenting Ramsay's effects first appeared in 1985 (reissued 1989).
Coauthors: Victor Farelli
