| Listed | Price | |
Super-CutsJon RacherbaumerThe methods explained in this manuscript involve cutting a deck to ostensibly change its order. They are semi-automatic because minimal dexterity is required. Otherwise they are subtle in seductive ways and all of them are completely or partially false. The false cut triggering this manuscript is Jay Ose's False Cut that was auspiciously introduced to magicians by Harry Lorayne. This false cut eventually made its way into the repertoires of card specialists, but early on it was primarily meant to be easily and quickly performed after false shuffling. It was to the point, expressing a pleasing, sixbeat... | ★★★★★ $10 to wish list | ||
Synergistic SandwichesJon RacherbaumerSandwich tricks, long popular with cardmen, are nothing more than glorified locations. What makes them a little different is that the selections are found at specific places: between two other cards. Perhaps the best way to present these stunts is to perform a few in a rapidfire, successive way—each phase following the preceding one in a logical, progressive way. Also, each phase should be stronger than the preceding one. When such phases unfold in this manner, the overall impression will likely have more impact and be memorable. And this is exactly what Racherbaumer has engineered in... | ★★★★★ $10 to wish list | ||
The Ascanio SpreadJon RacherbaumerThe Ascanio Spread is a beautiful false display move, generally used to display 4 cards and hide a fifth one. From the Introduction: The Ascanio Spread immigrated to this country from Amsterdam. Del Cartier, Herb Zarrow, Mike Rogers, and Pete Biro were instrumental in bringing this technique to America. In fact, Del Cartier is a close personal friend of Ascanio and was the go-between in obtaining the original Ascanio manuscript for Mike Rogers, who in turn passed it on to me.
| ★★★★★ $19.50 to wish list | ||
The Complete Gypsy Switch HandbookJon RacherbaumerNote that different moves and techniques have been called 'Gypsy Switch' over the decades. See for example a technique to switch bills using an envelope: Gypsy Switch. The technique described here by Jon Racherbaumer uses a handkerchief and is mostly used with coins, but the basic technique is flexible and utilitarian, which means any object that is conveniently flat and compact can be switched for a similar object, using a handkerchief. This includes objects such as coins, poker chips, billets, cards (business and torn playing card pieces), and folded currency. In its antecedent form this move appeared... | ★★★★★ $12 to wish list | ||
The Gemini MotifJon RacherbaumerThe Gemini Motif is an apparently fair-looking, semiautomatic dealing procedure that forces two, three, or four cards, depending on its application.
1st edition 2016, 31 pages. | ★★★★★ $10 to wish list | ||
The Hierophant 1 and 2Jon RacherbaumerIssue 1:
| ★★★★★ $15 to wish listPDF_facsimile | ||
The Hierophant 3 and 4Jon RacherbaumerIssue 3:
| ★★★★★ $15 to wish listPDF_facsimile | ||
The Hierophant 5 and 6Jon RacherbaumerIssue 5:
| ★★★★★ $15 to wish listPDF_facsimile | ||
The Last HierophantJon RacherbaumerImpromptu Effects
| $15 to wish listPDF_facsimile | ||
The Legendary Kabbala (1971-1981)Jon RacherbaumerThe meaning of Kabbala, translated from Hebrew, means something received and handed down. This definition resonates. Knowledge of magic, after all, is handed down from generation to generation, from magician to magician, and from teacher to disciple. Prior to xerography and personal computers, most magical knowledge was transmitted in this primitive, semi-private, and intimate means. Word-of-mouth reigned supreme and to a certain extent still does. The magic scene in the Seventies was a blooming, buzzing place, atwitter with contentiousness and creativity. Close-up magic, particularly with... | ★★★★★ $49.50 to wish listPDF_facsimile | ||
The Legendary Kabbala (1971-1981) (used)Jon RacherbaumerHardcover with dust jacket. Like new condition. For details on the content see the digital edition. | $150 to wish list | ||
The Too Perfect TheoryJon RacherbaumerCan a magic trick be too perfect? Too impossible? Well, opinions differ. Some of the most prominent minds in magic disagree. Reading these essays will help you form your own personal opinion on this fundamental question. The theorists are:
1st edition 2008; 61 pages.... | ★★★★★ $5 to wish list | ||
The Universal CardJon RacherbaumerThis ebook explores variations on the Universal Card theme, is part of the Yod series. Universal Card is a classic card plot in which a single card (like the joker) transforms to one at a time to match each of the selected cards. Originally posed by Karl Fulves in his Pallbearers Review, where he used the term "Universal Card", a name that caught on.
| ★★★★★ $6 to wish list | ||
The Universal Card ExpandedJon RacherbaumerMore than 40 years ago Jon Racherbaumer wrote a book on the Universal Card plot introduced by Karl Fulves. This is an updated and expanded version.
| ★★★★★ $10 to wish list | ||
Thirty Years Ago: Contributions to the New PentagramJon RacherbaumerThese are Jon Racherbaumer's contributions to the New Pentagram Magazine from 1979.
articles first appeared 1979; 14 pages | $5 to wish list | ||
Tickling TekelJon RacherbaumerFrom the Introduction: The purpose of this compilation is to incentivize and "tickle" students to reexamine the Mene-Tekel deck and reconsider its possibilities. This has been done before and as recently as 2003 when Chris Wardle (via Paul Hallas) published a 27 page booklet titled Investigating the Mene-Tekel Deck (Magic's Forgotten Trick Deck). ... We begin with Ed Marlo's groundbreaking addition of what he called the Roughed Mene-Tekel. We end with ends with David Britland's clever routines. In between there the other contributions are meant to provide further context and stimulation - enough to tickle anyone's fancy. At least that's the presumptive impulse that led to its creation.
| ★★★★★ $13 to wish list | ||
Timely TrickeryJon RacherbaumerWhile we all intuitively understand what time is, even a child can tell you what time it is, it is a hard concept to fully understand from a scientific point of view. It is hard to define, and wrap your head around. That is part of the intrigue of making it the topic of a magic effect. Particularly for an interested and sophisticated audience it can be a very effective plot line. Jon Racherbaumer explores how magicians have made use of it over the decades, and he has unearthed some remarkable gems.
| ★★★★★ $20 to wish list | ||
TosherooniqueJon RacherbaumerFrom the Foreword: "Tosheroon" is an odd but memorable name. It sounds amusing and somewhat incantatory - especially for a card trick. Bob Driebeck, who dubbed it, knew that the word was Cockney slang for a half-crown, which is also the type of coin he used to perform this offbeat card trick. The basic effect is a transformation done with an impediment in place - the impediment or obstruction in this case is a coin, which is placed onto the face of the card that eventually changes. Effect: A card is selected and lost in the deck. Then a borrowed coin is marked and placed onto the face... | ★★★★★ $12 to wish list | ||
Trix FixesJon Racherbaumer | $10 to wish list | ||
TwixtJon RacherbaumerReviving "Between the Palms" one of Alex Elmsley's most offbeat plots. This is sort of a "locked room" mystery with playing cards. It is an offbeat plot because the implicit aspects of effect, particularly its climax, are not immediately understood or appreciated. Yet the effect still has an emotional impact. Compared to other card tricks being done in 1952 it was very different. (Perhaps its closest cousins may be Fred Braue's "The Prechosen Chosen Card" from The Gen (February 1962) or Brother John Hamman's "Signed Card.") Effect: The performer removes a card from the deck and, without showing its face, places it between... | $15 to wish list | ||
Unlimited 3.0Norm Osborn & Edward Marlo & Jon RacherbaumerThis manuscript explores in detail the possibilities of the 'Double Count'. As the title implies, the possibilities seem unlimited. After reading this PDF you will surely come up with your own variations and takes on the effects presented. The Double Count in its basic form is to show five cards absolutely cleanly as six. One of the five cards is a double facer. 1st edition 1953, 2nd edition 1983, 3rd edition 2002, 48 pages. Table of Contents
| $10 to wish list | ||
Virtual VisitationsJon RacherbaumerDiving into double-back transits.
| $14 to wish list | ||
WhispersJon RacherbaumerThis treatise is a detailed exploration of a glorified location-divination, framed by a whimsical conceit - namely that an inanimate object - a playing card - is the supposed agency that makes the entire trick work. In this regard it was an effort to upgrade an essentially puerile divination effect. Here is the basic approach or plot: The way the performer learns the identity of a freely selected card is apparently due to enlisting the assistance of another playing card (usually a Queen), which whispers the name of the selection to the magician. The magician then acts as the Queen's proxy... | ★★★★★ $12 to wish list | ||
Winning WinnowingJon RacherbaumerWays To End Up With the Only Thing You Want From the introduction: This paper is an introductory effort yearning to be a disquisition. Please forgive its discursive style. So far, this recondite subject has resisted an in-depth, organized treatment. The subject at hand is an exploration of reduction and the process of indirectly seeking information. Or, to use the jargon term, it is about elimination and fishing as applied to card magic—more specifically to the Think of a Card effect.
| ★★★★★ $10 to wish list |