Ken de Courcy
(Hastings, England: 10th March 1922 - 23rd July 2008)
Stage name of Kenneth William Gurney de Courcy Tyler since 1942. Learned at age 6 from parents gift of an Ernest Sewell magic set. Tutored by Stanley Collins 1938-42. Pro debut 1945-47 touring Southeast Asia for ENSA. Semi-pro c1947-c1964 while in business. Specializes in cabaret and close-up. Stage act with assistant-wife Sue de Courcy since 1969. Pet effect: Knife thru Coat. 1989 AMA Literary Fellowship. British Ring President 1989-90.
Wrote over 60 booklets, beginning with Genial Improbabilities (1949, 62pp; repr 1968), then Zodiac Telepathy (1951, 17pp), Automentalism (1953, 15pp), Dubbelkross and Simulkross (1955, 16pp), Son of Pentertain (1974, 29pp), Creditable Conjuring (1983).
Edited The Budget for 17 years and Magigram since 1966. Edits-publishes The Coffee-Break Chronicle (limited to 100 subscribers) 1988-?
Coauthors: Herb Rungay, Richard Himber, George Blake
Ken de Courcy products
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Linking Finger RingRichard Himber & Ken de Courcy & George Blake Routines with the Himber type linking finger ring.
1st digital edition 2018, 19 pages. | 2018 / 1 / 30 | $5.00 £3.57 €4.13 Ca$6.41 Au$6.54 ¥548.98 | to wish list | ||
You'll Get The PointKen de Courcy If you like a real card baffler, look no further. This is a sort of 'One-Deck Do-As-I-Do' but it works on a very different principle.
Cards are shuffled and cut both by the spectator and the performer (really!). The spectator mentally chooses a card (free choice) and the performer does the same. Then the cards are shuffled again. Unbelievably, the magician and the spectator get cards of the same value and colour. It almost works itself. Effect: The performer cuts a portion off the pack, hands it to a spectator and asks him to do exactly as he does. First they both shuffle their packets,... | 2018 / 1 / 29 | $4.00 £2.86 €3.31 Ca$5.13 Au$5.23 ¥439.18 | to wish list | ||
Genial ImprobabilitiesKen de Courcy From the Foreword:
A word about the tricks themselves. As far as I personally am aware, every item is original in some way, either in effect or method.
| 2018 / 1 / 16 | $10.00 £7.15 €8.27 Ca$12.82 Au$13.08 ¥1097.95 | to wish list | ||
CardsinkKen de Courcy A chosen card that not only penetrates right through a deck of cards and a card-case, but also right through a spectator's hand. A very strong effect that looks impossible.
The effect is startling because it appears to happen in the spectator's own hands. As always Ken provides precious ideas for an intriguing presentation.
1st edition 1986; 1st digital edition 2018, 4 pages. | 2018 / 1 / 16 | $6.00 £4.29 €4.96 Ca$7.69 Au$7.85 ¥658.77 | to wish list | ||
Signed Card in Unfaked WalletKen de Courcy Here is Ken's version of the signed card to wallet. A classic effect in a beautiful version with the complete presentation.
The Effect: A card is chosen and signed by the taker. When it has been returned to the pack, a wallet is introduced. Inside it is a card which proves to be the one that was chosen and signed.
1st edition 1985, 1st digital edition 2018, 4 pages. | 2018 / 1 / 10 | $6.00 £4.29 €4.96 Ca$7.69 Au$7.85 ¥658.77 | to wish list | ||
Lucky in LoveKen de Courcy Here is another magical gem from Ken De Courcy. It is packed with mystery, humor and audience participation. This card effect is suitable for close-up, stage, cabaret-floor or where you want to present it. The totally unexpected (yet logical) climax really hits the audience between the eyes and cannot fail to gather applause.
EFFECT: A lady is invited to assist. She chooses one of four envelopes and the remaining three are left in full view. She is then handed a red-backed pack to shuffle while the magician shuffles a blue pack. Then the packs are exchanged and shuffled again if you want. ... | 2017 / 12 / 30 | $5.00 £3.57 €4.13 Ca$6.41 Au$6.54 ¥548.98 | to wish list | ||
The Blood Feast of the SunKen de Courcy Ken de Courcy and Billy McComb took an old chemical effect, figured out the secret that makes it work reliably, and worked out all the other kinks, to make it ready for real world performances. The effect reads like one from Lubor Fiedler.
Effect: The magician introduces a circle of yellow tissue paper and hands it to a spectator to crumple into a ball. He receives it back then, holding it at his fingertips, concentrates on it for a few moments. The tissue ball is placed on an ashtray then ... it suddenly bursts into flames and burns away. PDF 6 pages. | 2017 / 10 / 16 | $5.00 £3.57 €4.13 Ca$6.41 Au$6.54 ¥548.98 | to wish list | ||
Tricks for Travelling TrickstersKen de Courcy Impromptu tricks for audiences who speak little to no English.
In today's global world it is important to be able to do magic for folks who do not speak your language or who do not understand the cultural nuances and jokes you may have in your primary program. Many of the tricks taught are impromptu. From the introduction by Billy McComb: I can't think of anyone better qualified to write this than Ken de Courcy. He and Susan take at least a couple of holidays a year to strange exotic countries where the inhabitants speak little or no English. He doesn't, like some magicians, drive his wife potty by... | 2017 / 2 / 28 | $15.00 £10.72 €12.40 Ca$19.23 Au$19.62 ¥1646.93 | to wish list | ||
Four Ace IntrosKen de Courcy From the introduction:
The Four Ace Trick is deservedly popular. There are many versions, from the semi-automatic to the almost impossible finger-flinging variety, so it's within the scope of every performer. It starts, necessarily, with the abstraction of the four Aces. One can simply run through the pack, locate them and toss them out. Or, if you want considerably more impact, you can produce them magically. That's what this is all about ... producing the Aces in an interesting way as a lead-in to whatever Four Ace Trick you normally do. Here, you'll find both easy and more complicated... | 2016 / 7 / 3 | $8.00 £5.72 €6.61 Ca$10.25 Au$10.46 ¥878.36 | to wish list | ||
The Ring of EOKKen de Courcy An amazing three part routine with a simple piece of rope and a borrowed ring.
The routine is in three parts. In Part I, a borrowed signet-ring is threaded on a rope, then penetrates it. Part II sees the ring again threaded and also knotted on the rope. Nevertheless, the ring visibly dissolves through leaving just the knot. In Part III the ring is threaded and knotted on the rope then a handkerchief is wrapped round it and the whole thing is held by a spectator. When instructed, he allows the handkerchief to drop to the floor to disclose an 'empty' rope; no ring ... not even a knot. Since... | 2016 / 6 / 19 | $5.00 £3.57 €4.13 Ca$6.41 Au$6.54 ¥548.98 | to wish list | ||
Sequacious AcesKen de Courcy From the introduction:
"Four Ace Tricks" there are in plenty and most are effective when properly handled; at that, they can rarely be as telling as a complete routine. Here is my own Four Ace Routine formed over the years of bits and pieces from everywhere. I've found it extremely useful, for example, at dinners, and also at parties where I've been asked 'to do a trick '...commonly known as 'singing for one's supper'. I would do this, and no more. It proved sufficient yet always left them wanting, which is how it should be. A modicum of sleight-of-hand is needed.... | 2016 / 6 / 4 | $6.00 £4.29 €4.96 Ca$7.69 Au$7.85 ¥658.77 | to wish list | ||
It's Knot ImpossibleKen de Courcy Get the most from a classic trick. All you need is a single piece of rope (that can be borrowed) and you are always ready to entertain your audience. It packs so small but it plays so big. You can perform it close up or for a big audience.
"The Impossible Knot", originally called "G.W.Hunter's Puzzle Knot", was well-known to magicians fifty years ago but appears to have dropped out of use. This is a shame because it is easy to do, not well-known and, due to the method, almost impossible for a spectator to work out even when he is apparently shown how it is done. In short, it's a useful thing... | 2016 / 6 / 4 | $4.00 £2.86 €3.31 Ca$5.13 Au$5.23 ¥439.18 | to wish list | ||
At the Drop of a MatchKen de Courcy From the introduction:
It must be fifty years since Will Blyth wrote his two books on Matchstick Magic. Yet, with coins, matches are the commonest articles carried with which magic can be performed.Content
| 2016 / 4 / 11 | $6.00 £4.29 €4.96 Ca$7.69 Au$7.85 ¥658.77 | to wish list | ||
PinpointsKen de Courcy From the introduction:
Safety-pins are familiar things; they're inexpensive and can be bought almost everywhere both here and abroad. In other words, they're ideal props with which to perform magic. As a bonus, they are extremely portable and shine under lights. | 2015 / 11 / 27 | $5.00 £3.57 €4.13 Ca$6.41 Au$6.54 ¥548.98 | to wish list | ||
Sleeve SubwayKen de Courcy A brilliant card-up-the-sleeve routine wherein you perform the effect first with regular cards and then with JUMBO'S.
Not difficult to do - a pleasure to learn and a delight to perform. Complete with Ken de Courcy's original fully illustrated routine, (based on a concept by R. M. Jamison), and full patter presentation to perform this unusual and entertaining mystery. The effect is the following: The magician introduces three playing cards, for example, a Two of Hearts, a Three of Diamonds and a card which is conspicuously different to the other two, an Ace of Spades. The cards are... | 2015 / 9 / 1 | $5.00 £3.57 €4.13 Ca$6.41 Au$6.54 ¥548.98 | to wish list | ||
Roy Baker's Time FliesKen de Courcy Time Flies! And it's hard to time it because it flies so fast. Anyway, here is a routine with a borrowed watch that you will find fun to make up. Even the most ham-fisted should be able to complete the job in about half-an-hour. It's fun-packed and the magic content is strong. In brief a borrowed wrist watch disappears in a cascade of streamers and is found in a sealed tin can.
5 pages | 2015 / 8 / 20 | $4.00 £2.86 €3.31 Ca$5.13 Au$5.23 ¥439.18 | to wish list | ||
33 Tricks with the PATEO ForceKen de Courcy Which is one of the best forces in magic? Undoubtedly the PATEO force! PATEO stand for "POINT AT TWO, ELIMINATE ONE", because that's exactly what happens.
The PATEO force is very easy to do end can be used not only with cards but with a variety of objects. It is a very strong force because the spectator seems to have very free choice. In this wonderful manuscript, Ken De Courcy give us, 33 ways to use the PATEO force. You will find card magic, mental magic, close-up magic, club magic, party magic and, yes, stage magic too. A real treasure house of good effects. You can surely find at least... | 2015 / 6 / 7 | $10.00 £7.15 €8.27 Ca$12.82 Au$13.08 ¥1097.95 | to wish list | ||
My Card SirKen de Courcy From the fertile mind of Ken De Courcy, Edwin Hooper and Ian Adair, here is a manuscript loaded with wonderful ideas to magically introduce and produce your business card...
From the introduction: "This little book fills a long-felt want. It is the only publication, we believe, which deals with the subject of the novel presentation of your card to agents, bookers, etc. | 2014 / 10 / 27 | $6.00 £4.29 €4.96 Ca$7.69 Au$7.85 ¥658.77 | to wish list | ||
A Case For CardsKen de Courcy From the FOREWORD
In this short thesis I'm going to discuss a fairly well-known plot ... "The Card in the Card-case". If you think about it, there's more 'logic' in this effect than in, for example, "The Card in Matchbox"; the card-case is already there because the cards were in it. Unless you smoke while performing, there is little reason for introducing a matchbox into the equation. | 2014 / 7 / 13 | $5.00 £3.57 €4.13 Ca$6.41 Au$6.54 ¥548.98 | to wish list | ||
Blue Spotitis and Other OdditiesKen de Courcy It is a children's game...it is a great magic trick...it is a mystifying series of magic tricks...it is SPOTITIS!
Do you remember the simple origami fold called "the salt cellar"? Well, Ken de Courcy in this manuscript teaches you how to use that simple fold for performing wonderful magic tricks. Ken says: "In the 1956 edition of Robert Harbin's "Paper Magic" (beautifully illustrated by Rolf Harris) you will find an easily-made paper model titled "The Salt Cellar...Magic Colour Changer". It's a paper-fold that goes back many years; in fact, in 1948, Ernie Kob marketed an amusing use... | 2014 / 7 / 1 | $7.00 £5.00 €5.79 Ca$8.97 Au$9.15 ¥768.57 | to wish list |
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