Balls, Eggs, Dice & Cups

Here's the highly sought-after inside scoop on manipulating fair dice to come up with a desired point total. The same confidential information as sold by crooked gambling supply houses in the early to mid-1900s. Advertised as the most complete work of its kind ever published, it contains the real work for magicians, gambling lecturers, casino training, and law enforcement. Each shot is fully described and, where necessary, line drawings help explain the moves.

The combined effort of several players, this volume was originally sold for the equivalent of $50.00 in order to keep it out of...

From the introduction:

Here you can watch and study the best moves of some of the best dice stackers in the world: Annika Wahl, Janine Krauskopf, Clemens Schlink, Thomas Fischbach, Jannick Zittlau, Donato Marro.

You will find anything from crazy point landings, juggling, cross overs, backhands, super fast stacking, downstacks, downstairs, and much more - mind blowing dexterity and control. But with practice you can learn these and other moves, too. Keep in mind that this is not really a teaching video where moves are broken down for you to learn. You will see the pros do the moves for real and you can certainly...

One cup effects using a silicone collapsible drinking cup.

Innovative sleights, moves, and effects created when the Boy Scouts changed to this cup in 2009. Now, many silicone cups are available. These methods work with them all. One can use crochet balls, or nuts, candy, pebbles - most any small objects. No need for the expensive versions from Europe. This came first and is much simpler.

Chop Cup? Yes, several ways to gaff this cup, but you don't have to. Many exciting magic effects without the limitations of the traditional gaff. Move beyond a Chop Cup. Move beyond a solid cup. Always...

Expanded uses of a Chop Cup.

Theory, sleights and several unique effects. This explores flaws in traditional Chop Cup routines and offers solutions. Move beyond "what came in the box."

1st edition 2009, PDF 43 pages.

How to use a single object like a walnut to perform astounding and entertaining illusions of transportations, penetrations, color-changes, productions and vanishes.

A blending of sway methods, innovative sleights, insightful stratagems, and the elements of performance using 'found' objects in a true impromptu setting.

FOUND - an object from the location: candy, pebble, nut, coffee creamer, etc. Nothing from your person, carried, prepared or gaffed. Just a 'stone' in reference.

IMPROMPTU - in response to a sudden request or chance opportunity.

SINGLE - 15 effects and several...

This is the second eBook in the series and a companion to Single Stone, with completely different effects and additional sleights/moves plus special stratagems to take advantage of the unique qualities of "exactly two."

Learn how to use two objects like walnuts or candy to perform astounding and entertaining illusions of transportations, penetrations, color-changes, productions, and vanishes.

A blending of sway methods, innovative sleights, insightful stratagems, and the elements of performance using 'found' objects in a true impromptu setting. (Many techniques can be used in other venues/settings.) ...

This is the third eBook in the series and a companion to Single Stone, and Pair fo Stones with completely different effects and additional sleights/moves plus special stratagems to take advantage of the unique qualities of "3-4 objects."

Learn how to use three objects like walnuts or candy to perform astounding and entertaining illusions of transportations, penetrations and transpositions and productions. There is a large focus on assembly effect

A blending of sway methods, innovative sleights, insightful stratagems and the elements of performance using 'found' objects in a true impromptu setting. (Many techniques...

The best parts in this publications are the work on thimbles and billiard balls. Also included are card and coin routines.

1st edition 1980, 1st digital edition 2013, 90 pages.

Table of Contents

6. Preface
7. Alfred B. Leech: Magician—Of—The Month
10. Major Surgery
15. A Typographical Error
17. Platform Wild Card
21. A Bicycle Built For Profit
24. Too Small
27. Snap Change
30. Crooked Card
33. Three Cards Across
38. The 1971-72 M-U-M Award
39. A Card Trilogy
43. Coins And Cards
45. The Coin Star
47. Ball Manipulation
49. Chicago Balls: The Chicago Ball Trick And A Routine
54. Substitution For Chicago Balls
55. Color Changes
55. - A Color...

John Ramsay was called "The Magician's Magician" because even for those in the know he could create miracles. He consistently fooled his peers with his incredible skill, misdirection and unique thinking. Here are a few quotes about him:

"... We are not given to uncritical boosts.... But it is difficult to write with moderation of the work of Johnnie Ramsay. His sleight of hand is unexcelled, perhaps even unequalled. Performers who know all there is to know about the Cups and Balls are not merely puzzled, but utterly baffled by Ramsay's presentation. His Cap and Pence is a masterpiece of artistry.......

As taught by Fred Kaps to Trevor Lewis.

"This Cups and Balls routine has several Vernon touches; but there are alternative strategies which are truly outstanding and characteristic of the master, Fred Kaps." - Trevor Lewis

Twenty years later...

English translations of the seminal 18th century French works on Cups & Balls by Ozanam and Guyot, respectively, with editorial commentary and explanatory notes by the editor, Sean McWeeney. Ozanam and Guyot are to be credited with the first full-length "blow-by-blow" detailed explanations in any language of the oldest sleight-of-hand trick in all of magic - the Cups & Balls (complete with illustrations from the original texts). Translations by Jane Poveromo.

1st edition 2012, 71 pages.

From the introduction by Lewis Ganson:

An apple visually materializes and can be handed out to keep. See video below for a demo. Spectator is offered a gift or fruit but hands the bag back because it's empty. Magician takes bag and points inside saying "Just look closer right there" and the spectator watches through the see-through bag as an apple materializes in the magician's hand. It is then handed to them to keep. This has been performed many times at the request of magicians, they fall in love with it and so do the spectators. They see you produce natural objects from nothing, miraculously.

Dennis writes:

You borrow a normal egg from a spectator, who signs it with a permanent pen. Then you borrow a coin and also have it signed by the spectator. Now you proceed to put the signed egg and signed coin together and without making any funny or weird movements. The coin visually penetrates the egg and goes through its shell!. It all happens right before the eyes of the spectator. The egg is now shown all around completely intact, with no scratches or holes. Your hands are shown both sides, all angles are totally clean, you are not hiding or palming the coin, it really has 'melted' into the egg! You...

This ebook is a treat for any magic historian as well as for anybody who likes to learn more about the history of the cups and balls. A collection of 20 woodcuts, copper engravings and oil paintings from the 15th and 16th century depicting conjurers with cups and balls is described in great detail by Kurt Volkmann, the president of the German Magic Circle from 1952-1958.

For example, you will find the famous oil painting "The Juggler" by Hieronymus Bosch as well as an imitation and a very similar copper engraving. Read what we can learn from the various depictions of the cups and balls. One...

This is one of the most innovative cups and balls routines. Maestro Leonardo featured the routine in his IBM competition entry in 2008 in the UK and received a standing ovation from the audience. There are no moves in the routine that relate to any other cups and balls effects. The loads are invisible, and there is virtually no way that they can be spotted. Anyone who plans to use this routine and is prepared to put in the work perfecting it, could have a short act that is suitable for any kind of show venue. The Medieval Cups and Balls routine culminates with the production of water, a long...

A stunning routine of unparalleled talent! The cups and balls with clear glasses - transparent cups. Antonio breaks new ground in close up magic with this effect. What an idea and what entertainment.

"Antonio breaks new ground in close-up magic. What a fabulous idea." - Arturo de Ascanio

"In my lifetime, I've seen some of the greatest "CUPS N BALL" routines performed by Dai Vernon, Mike Ammar, John Thompson, Charlie Miller, Johnny Paul and the many others with brilliant routines and moves & sleights. Antonio's routine is smashing and completely blew me away! You don't need an expensive set of cups for the cups and balls routine! Antonio...

This is a translation and reformatting of Les Coussinets de la Princesse by Medjid K. Rezvani.

"... it was quite a surprise, a positive one, when I received a preview copy of the ebook of this wonderful booklet. Translated by Michael Landes, it provides a clear interpretation of the routine. The routine, itself, is called "les Coussinets de la Princesse" -- the little cushions of the princess -- and is also known as "The Tomato Trick." It's a nice piece of story magic, as well as a darn good trick. The book goes into how to construct the close-up mat, the construction of the "cushions," the...

This is Peki's full fledged lecture video on manipulation with balls. It was originally released in German in 1994, but Peki has dubbed it himself in English. If you want to learn how to manipulate balls this is the video to learn it from. Jeff McBride has very good lecture videos on the market, but keep in mind that Jeff McBride started with stage manipulation seeing Peki perform.

Peki has a beautiful soft and lyrical style and reveals all his tricks and tips and ways to practice, including the various gimmicks he uses to achieve seamless transitions, wonderful color changes and other highly...

On August 2nd, 1982, Martin Breese organized a John Mendoza lecture, which was taped for later release as a video. But Martin being the busy publisher he was had so many other projects to work on that he never got around releasing this recording. We rescued the recording from two old Umatic tapes Martin gave to me. Since this was recorded in the early 80s do not expect a high definition video. But it is nevertheless a good recording of Mendoza's lecture. The video has some flaws here and there with stripes, ghost images, and an occasional blackout. The audio track has no noticeable blackouts or problems....

The Cups and Balls done a little differently than most. This is an unusual, direct and very magical cups and balls routine. A white ball, a blue ball, and a red ball magically gather under one cup in different ways.

1st edition 2008, 36 pages, photo illustrated.

This is a wonderful "Dancing Ball" routine. You can have the ball dance on the heads of spectators, inside a glass, etc. The possibilities are many.

You will need a special gimmick for it. The video explains what you need and how you need to prepare it. If you do not have the necessary supplies and do not want to find them yourself, Peki does also sell a kit with all the supplies for an additional $30. At the end of the video you will be informed where you can purchase the kit.

1st edition 2016, length 7 minutes