| Listed | Price |
Zodiac TelepathyKen de Courcy This is the perfect two person act to start with, if you have never performed anything like it. The performers only need to memorize 21 items. In the words of George Armstrong:
Here at last is a method for combining the fascination of horoscope readings with the mystery of telepathy, and a method in which the medium, who does all the "talking", has only ten code words and eleven signals to learn for the Telepathy part of the act, and absolutely nothing for the Horoscope readings. Everything is done for her by the innocent but clever piece of apparatus described in these pages.
Any person... | $10 to wish listPDF |
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,... | ★★★★★ $4 to wish listPDF |
Walking Through a Steel Plate Plus (used)Ulysses Frederick Grant & Ken de Courcy  Stapled booklet in good condition. For details on the contents see the digital edition. | $7 to wish list |
Walking Through a Steel Plate PlusUlysses Frederick Grant & Ken de Courcy As usual with Grant instructions, they leave a lot to the imagination and "know-how" of the magician. However, the method was a clever one, simple but very effective. Ken de Courcy has taken the original instructions and added to them his own presentation points, and not only that, his improvements and various novel dressings which lift the effect up and turn it into acceptable modern entertainment.
In the original effect, a committee was invited on the stage to examine a solid steel plate. Then circular drawstring curtains were placed at the front and the rear, the magician walked behind... | ★★★★★ $7 to wish listPDF |
Ultimate Faulty FollowersKen de Courcy Here is a wonderful routine that you can perform every time and everywhere. From an idea by George Sands, Ken developed a beautiful three phases routine that can be performed under all circumstances with eight unprepared giant cards. The routine develops the theme “You can’t do what I do”.
Effect: Having enticed a spectator up to help, the magician hands him eight jumbo cards and says, "Please give me any four....and keep four yourself." This done, both performer and spectator carry out some simple movements but, when the cards are counted over, all the magician's cards are face down... | ★★★★★ $5 to wish listPDF |
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... | ★★★★★ $15 to wish listPDF |
The Systematic SeerKen de Courcy A simplified system of fortune telling.
One of the most effective ways of entertaining informally is by Fortune-Telling and, as a magician, you must have been asked many times if you can "tell fortunes". To do this properly requires much study and memory work, time you can probably not afford. So here is a new, simplified system that can easily be applied to Palmistry, the Tarot, Sand Reading, and almost every other form of divination. Apart from anything else, it's a great way to make friends.
The problem has always been to obtain sufficient 'cues' with which to give a 'reading'. Whilst... | ★★★★★ $7 to wish listPDF |
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... | ★★★★★ $5 to wish listPDF |
The Red and Black ComputationKen de Courcy You correctly guess how many red and black cards a spectator has casually put into four pockets with an unexpected climax. No skill required.
EFFECT
A spectator is given a pack of cards, or he can use his own. He shuffles it, removes some cards, splits them into blacks and reds and places the blacks in his left trouser-pocket and the reds in his right. He takes some more cards, splits them as before and conceals the black cards in his left jacket pocket and the reds in his right.
All this has taken place while the performer's back is turned.
The magician asks the spectator to again... | ★★★★★ $5 to wish listPDF |
The Receptive ShroudKen de Courcy An unusual presentation detailing probably the easiest system for the two-person mind-reading act yet produced.
EFFECT:
A clip-board is tossed into the audience. Under its elastic band is a pencil. The performer asks the person who catches it to pass the board to anyone in the row behind him. That person then writes anything he likes in the top space - a name, a date, a phone number, a question - anything. He then passes the board to someone behind him, who does the same thing, then the board is passed again.
When six people have written their thoughts, the board is returned to the... | $5 to wish listPDF |
The Novena EnigmaKen de Courcy Another great trick by Ken. You can do it anytime, anyplace with any deck. You can perform it even if the deck is incomplete. It is a perfect impromptu trick. It has all the elements of a great trick: an entertaining patter, comedy and a surprising finish.
THE EFFECT
A pack is shuffled and a card is selected by a spectator, shown to a few other people, then returned.
The magician shows the face card of the pack and asks whether it is the chosen card. This is denied. The performer tries to right the things.
He drops the pack face down on the table but the top card is face up. But once... | $4 to wish listPDF |
The Magical Jumbo Chinese CoinKen de Courcy & Ian Adair  Excerpt from the Foreword:
Certain pieces of apparatus, not many, have a sort of built-in glamour. Maybe charisma is a better word. I'm talking about props you enjoy seeing and handling. Supreme's Jumbo Chinese Coin comes into this category. To coin a phrase ... "It looks good ... it feels good ... and, by golly, it works good!" For the close-up performer it will add an expensive appearance to your routines as well as a completely unexpected climax to any trick with coins. For the cabaret magician, it can be easily seen and appreciated and, since it is unfaked, examined if necessary.
In... | $10 to wish listPDF |
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. | ★★★★★ $5 to wish listPDF |
The Australian Gambling Game of 31Ken de Courcy The Ace to Six of each suit are placed on the table, and the two players turn cards face down alternately and a running total of the pips is maintained. The winner is the one who takes the total to no more than 31. Even after the spectator is told the secret to winning, the magician still wins. Ends with an extra kicker.
PDF 10 pages | ★★★★★ $10 to wish listPDF |
The Astro Card FileKen de Courcy Effects with the Zodiac deck. (Deck not included with this PDF.)
Excerpt from the introduction:
Whilst this beautifully produced pack can be used for card games, as suggested in the small folder that comes with the deck, its main strength to a magician lies in the way that ordinary card tricks can be given an astrological slant and thus personalized. To the mentalist, of course, the pack represents one of the finest adjuncts to have come out for many years. Whilst a spectator may not be able to associate herself with the Queen of Hearts, she can certainly relate to her own birth sign.... | $8 to wish listPDF |
Tearing Them UpDick Turpin & Alan Shaxon & Ken de Courcy  There can be no doubt about it, the "Torn and Restored Newspaper" is one of our modern classics. Many excellent versions have been published and marketed by dealers over the years. In the pages of this manuscript, we are pleased to present two excellent variations, Dick Turpin's "Torn and Restored Newspaper" and "Tearing Up the News" by Alan Shaxon, both first-class methods. Both versions are very easy to prepare and to perform. Additionally, we have included Ken de Courcy's patter presentation for the Dick Turpin routine, which of course, can be used for either variation. Ken’s patter is... | $7 to wish listPDF |
Super SpellKen de Courcy Instantly find any card called for by spelling out its name. No sleight of hand requested. No force.
This is Ken's version of "Magic Spell" by Hen Fetsch. Although it looks incredible, with a simple preparation of the deck you will be able to immediately find any card named by someone in the audience simply by spelling it. You will be able to do this with different spectators one after the other. Yes you can take out the pack of cards and spell any of the 52 cards...and, yes, the Joker too.
In the complete instructions by Ken de Courcy you will find in detail how to do the simple preparation... | $6 to wish listPDF |
Stand-Up Sponges (used)Ken de Courcy Stapled booklet in like-new condition. For details on the contents see the digital edition. | $7 to wish list |
Stand-Up SpongesKen de CourcyA practical and commercial routine without difficult sleights.
From the Introduction:
For a long time Billy McComb and I have been searching for the "perfect" routine with Sponge Balls. It's taken a long time because we laid down some rather stringent conditions:
- The set-up (and re-setting) must be both quick and easy.
- It must be workable standing up without the use of a table.
- There must be no danger of the balls dropping off the volunteer's hand and bouncing all over the place.
- It must be loaded in such a way that it doesn't bulge out a thin mohair suit.
- If possible, it must contain at least...
| ★★★★★ $7 to wish listPDF |
Son of Pentertain (used)Ken de Courcy
Softcover booklet in excellent condition. For details on the content see the digital edition. | $15 to wish list |
Son of PentertainKen de Courcy
The sequel to Pentertain. As before, these oddities can be shown wherever you have pencil and paper. For larger audiences a chalkboard, whiteboard or flip-chart is better; you can even do them in sand on a sea-shore.
- Introduction
- A Timely Legend
- No Time For Work
- The Cure For Insomnia
- Sheik A Leg
- Sheik Another Leg
- Cross Check
1st edition 1975, 17 pages; PDF 22 pages. | ★★★★★ $10 to wish listPDF |
Sleightly EasierKen de Courcy A book of alternative, easier, card sleights and tricks to go with them.
Excerpt from the introduction:
Many of the basic card sleights are not easy to do well. Take the Two-Handed Pass in which the top and bottom halves of the pack are transposed. The objective is to do it invisibly, which is just about impossible. To cover the action some very strong misdirection is required ... or an alternative method.
This little book is about such alternative methods ... easier ways to bring about the same results.
But because sleights, in themselves, are useless, I've endeavoured to include a few... | ★★★★★ $10 to wish listPDF |
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... | ★★★★★ $5 to wish listPDF |
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.
- No palming
- No force
- Use any wallet
- Easy to do
- Diabolical method
1st edition 1985, 1st digital edition 2018, 4 pages. | ★★★★★ $6 to wish listPDF |
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....
The description of the... | $6 to wish listPDF |
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 | $4 to wish listPDF |
Round the World with a Pack of CardsKen de Courcy Stage card magic routines are relatively rare. In this ebook, however, you will find a complete stage card magic act with a lot of surprises and fun. The performer talks about a trip around the world. Six cards are chosen by six members of the audience. The performer then demonstrates how the cards would be found in several countries: China, USA, France, Russia and India.
A great routine packed with mystery, surprise and a lot of fun. Can be worked with the help of an assistant or solo.
1st digital edition 2013, 17 pages. | $7 to wish listPDF |
Rink Goes Loop La-LaKen de Courcy From the introduction:
"Rink (van Rinkhuyzen) of Holland has a keen trick brain. Like most of the great magical inventors, he individualises every effect he obtains and, if he likes it, he continues to work on it. The result; a string of often unbelievable variations that astounds everyone, including the man who invented it.
Some time ago, Supreme marketed Tommy Talbot's "Loop La-La", an amusing little thing with two unfaked rope loops. As it stood, it was basically a compere gag. It could be repeated over and over again, but there was no build-up, and no end.
Rink took "Loop La-La"... | ★★★★★ $5 to wish listPDF |
Pin-PointsKen 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.
Over the years the Supreme Magic Company has stocked a number of tricks with safety-pins but, probably because they were sold at low prices, people read the ads. and ignored them ... "because they can't be much good at that price'."
On the contrary, some of them had a startling effect, so Edwin has agreed they should be collected... | $5 to wish listPDF |
PentertainKen de Courcy Fifteen minutes impromptu entertainment with pen and paper.
From the introduction:
Here is a short, entertaining act that can be worked impromptu anywhere you have a pen, paper and audience. For larger shows it can be done with chalk and blackboard. I have even done it on an Overhead Projector during a break in a Training Course.
- Introduction
- PENTERTAIN
- THE REQUIREMENTS
- THE PREPARATION
- THE FORMAT
- Only Heaven (and Einstein) Knows!
- Everything is Relative
- A Not-so-Proper Charlie
- The Chinese Check
- The Forgotten Phone Number
- A Question of Degree
- A Last Word
1st edition... | ★★★★★ $10 to wish listPDF |
Patently ObscureKen de Courcy A complete 7-minute act or interlude of crazy inventions with easily obtainable props. Complete with patter and full presentation. Funny! Unusual! With a laugh in every line.
A special supplement is included with full details of a smashing attache-case vanish of all the props used. Easy to make, you can gimmick any case in 10 or 15 minutes.
1st digital edition 2013, 11 pages. | ★★★★★ $6 to wish listPDF |
Pasteboard ProwlerKen de Courcy A "Coin Assembly" with a signed and torn playing card with a surprising finish.
EFFECT: A spectator shuffles a pack then removes a card. The card is signed on the face by the spectator and torn into four quarters, and then an indifferent card is shown and laid aside face down on the table. One at a time the four quarters of the chosen card are vanished and reappear under the indifferent card. When the fourth corner should have arrived, however, there is nothing at all under the card ... all four have vanished. When the card is turned over, it is found to be the chosen card, complete with... | ★★★★★ $6 to wish listPDF |
One Dream BottleKen de Courcy Here is a mental effect that is useful for after-dinner shows.
EFFECT:
On the performer's table stand five bottled drinks. All contain different drinks, but they are all the same size. A spectator is invited to mentally choose one, then they are covered by him with five identical covers and, finally, mixed so no one can know the position of any particular drink. At this point, the performer turns his back and directs the spectator to move the bottles himself. Then one by one they are eliminated until only one remains.
He is asked to name the drink he chose, then lift the cover from... | ★★★★★ $5 to wish listPDF |
Nod ... è PossibileKen de Courcy
Ottieni il massimo da un trucco classico. Tutto ciò di cui hai bisogno è un unico pezzo di corda (che può essere preso in prestito) e sei sempre pronto a intrattenere il tuo pubblico. È così piccolo ma ha un effetto così grande. Puoi eseguirlo da vicino o per un grande pubblico. Puoi eseguirlo anche in VIDEOCONFERENZA!
Ottieni il massimo dal “Nodo Impossibile di Hunter” con questa routine del grande Edwin Hooper descritta dall’altrettanto grande Ken De courcy.
"The Impossible Knot", originariamente chiamato "G.W.Hunter's Puzzle Knot", era ben noto ai maghi cinquant'anni fa,... | $4 to wish listPDF |
New Zealand BragKen de Courcy A close-up "lay-out" type effect based on a mythical game, "New Zealand Brag".
You deal out the shuffled Aces, Kings and Queens, yet miraculously when the hands are turned over they have separated into suits and, what is more, each hand is in their right order, Queen, King, Ace! Something very different in card magic.
1st edition 2018, 5 pages. | ★★★★★ $4 to wish listPDF |
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.
May many bookings follow the presentation of "your card".
Imagine you're in a club, pub or other hostelry where people meet to drink, eat and be merry. You're ready to perform and need an audience. If you have a couple of friends... | ★★★★★ $6 to wish listPDF |
Mistress of PentertainKen de Courcy Fiddling with figures.
More along the lines of Pentertain and Son of Pentertain. The fact that there is so much material here is due to the efforts of Geoffrey Lamb, Ralph Erlewine, Dr. Bernard Juby, R. C. Buff, Peter Rees and, in particular, Leslie May who sent in pages of figure oddities.
- Acknowledgements
- Foreword
- The Power of the Pentagram
- The Seven Dwarfs
- The Charlie Chronicles
- A Sanguinary Rise
- In the Good Old Days
- Tricky Crosswords
- Discount Coffee
- The Alternative Prediction
- Practice Makes Perfect
- Three-Way Prediction
- F.T. Publicity
- Medical Magic
- Forbidden Fruit
- Grandfather's Gimmick
- 1089 and...
| ★★★★★ $10 to wish listPDF |
Mentelimination PlusKen de Courcy Find any card a spectator takes from a borrowed and shuffled pack.
EFFECT: The magician tells his audience he has trained his mind to work like a computer. To demonstrate its computer-like capabilities, he asks a spectator to shuffle a pack of cards then, without looking at it, remove one card and place it in his pocket. Taking back the pack, the performer runs through it quickly, then goes through it again even more quickly and pulls out one card which he places face down on the table. The spectator removes his card from his pocket and places it face-up alongside the magician's card, then... | ★★★★★ $4 to wish listPDF |
Magic in Cabaret LandKen de Courcy From the introduction:
The word itself, "Cabaret", carries overtones that conjure exotic pictures of nude dancers, the "Moulin Rouge" and German Beer Cellars; a sort of high-class iniquitous entertainment enjoyed by the lucky few. But that is all changed. It's been brought down to the level of the man-in-the-street. Now he can have a ringside seat for dining, dancing, drinking, a show ... and gambling.
Yet he won't take advantage of all this 'loose-living' unless there is also a "SHOW", as the proprietors of these establishments well know. There is a plethora of singers and 'groups', and... | $10 to wish listPDF |
Magic BalloonsKen de Courcy From the introduction:
It was that well-known West Country entertainer, Roy Van Dyke, who made me realise balloons can be used for more purposes than screwing into strange shapes sometimes resembling animals. He has a terrific opening trick that has colour, movement and noise that never fails to grab and hold the attention of today's show-saturated audiences.
- Introduction
- Bursting a Balloon
- Explosive 20th. Century
- Cut and Restored Rope
- The Hydrostatic Glass
- The Sharpshooter
- Milk in Light Bulb
- Upside Down Bottle
- Balloon Bouncing
- The Break-a-way Bouncer
- Balloon Destroyer
- The...
| ★★★★★ $10 to wish listPDF |
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.
... | $5 to wish listPDF |
