Magic & Conjuring

This book shows that Howard Thurston, sometimes refered to as the World's Master Magician, knew a lot about the Close-up side of magic, not just stage magic. He explains tricks with coins, cards, balls, matches, paper, ... There is something for everybody - easy and self-working tricks for the beginner, and more advanced ones for the intermediate skilled performer. Make sure to also check out More Tricks You Can Do

published 1926 by George Sully and Company; published 1939 as one volume together with "200 More Tricks You Can Do" as "400 Tricks You Can Do" by Blue Ribbon Books; 200 pages

5. Preface
7. A Brief Biography...

This is the sequel to 200 Tricks You Can Do.

published 1927 by George Sully and Company; published 1939 as one volume together with "200 More Tricks You Can Do" as "400 Tricks You Can Do" by Blue Ribbon Books; 186 pages

1. I. CARD TRICKS
   2. 1. An Amazing Discovery
   2. 2. Finding a Chosen Card
   3. 3. Maltese Crosses
   4. 4. Mysterious Coincidence
   5. 5. A Card Through the Plate
   7. 6. An Easy Four Ace Trick
   9. 7. The Paddle Trick
   11. 8. Telephone Telepathy
   13. 9. A Mysterious Card Trick
   14. 10. Card and Coin Trick
   15. 11. The Mysterious Joker
   16. 12. Card Changing Under Foot
   17. 13. United Kings and Queens
   18. 14. The Circle of Cards
   19. 15. The Rosette ...

The Tarbell Course is without a doubt the most comprehensive and most encompassing magic literary work in existance today. It has almost 1300 pages and nearly 2900 illustrations. It covers practically every form of magic: sleight of hand with cards, coins, thimbles, cigarettes, silks, ropes, ..., up to mentalism and illusions. It goes beyond the mere technique and teaches patter, routining, marketing and other often neglected facets of being a magician. There is no other book which comes even close in breadth and depth of the material covered. It is amazing that since the late 1920s nobody has...

This is an all time classic with 57 beautiful illustrations. It is one of the most complete books written on magic, because it teaches both stage and close-up magic (cards, coins, silks, cups and balls, etc.), technique, presentation, and all the peripheral skills necessary for great conjuring.

"I beg to say that it is far and away the very best work of its kind ever published" - Harry Kellar

"My den contains a large collection of books on magic, but none has a cover so worn as 'Sleight of Hand' by Edwin Sachs." - David Devant

Dieses Buch ist für den jungen angehenden Zauberkünstler geschrieben. Es ist in einem netten Dialog verfaßt und lehrt dem jungen Zauberkünstler alle wichtigen Lektionen. Einige Kunststücke sind recht schwierig und nicht unbedingt für den Anfänger geeignet. Die zweite Hälfte des Buches widmet sich dem Schattenspiel und dem Puppenspiel.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Erste Abteilung: Die große und die kleine Kunst
  1. Vorbericht
  6. Erster Abend: Vorbereitungen und Kleinigkeiten
  15. Zweiter Abend: Das Becherspiel und die Escamotage
  24. Dritter Abend: Die Kartenkästen, das Tinteglas, der Eierstab und...

Dieses Heft ist von einem der kreativsten Zauberer in Österreich, Kaldy-Karo, verfaßt. Er beschreibt Ideen für den Tisch, die Bühne, und einige Mental-Effekte. Kaldy-Karo wurde von der Deutschen Magiervereinigung zum Author des Jahres 1986 erchoren.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. 0. Einleitung
2. 1. Close up Opener
2. 1.1. Kreditkarte zu Geldschein
3. 1.2. Breaking the Ice
4. 2. Close up Tricks
4. 2.1. Coin and Candle
6. 2.2. Charmant, Charmant
9. 2.3. Pyramide
10. 2.4. Super Joker
11. 2.5. Kreditkartenzauber
12. 3. Mental
12. 3.1. Super Mental Force
13. 3.2. Once in a Million
15. 4. Bühne
15. 4.1. Supervitamin
17. 5. Über den Autor...

Reginald Scot intended his Discoverie of Witchcraft as a sensible argument disputing the existence of witches. It also features a small section on magic. The magic section starts with Booke 13 and Chapter 22. You will find rich full accounts of charges against witches, witch trials and practice of the black arts. Further, interviews with convicted witches, excerpts from inquisition, astrology, alchemy, charms, the names of demons, angels and other "words of power", spells, rituals, sabbats, biblical and Egyptian magic, and more. The Discoverie remains a much quoted primary source for those interested...

This booklet doesn't deserve the name 'booklet', because it is packed with many wonderful effects using small objects, from cards and coins, to ropes and silks and everything in between. There is also a nice section on vesting and sleeving. Jean Hugard is one of the outstanding teachers and authors in magic. My friend Chuck has been vanishing an orange for the last forty years in much the same manner that this booklet reveals how to vanish a dinner plate. He also remembers reading of Blackstone Sr. performing some of these stunts. Whenever the author is Jean Hugard - read it!

Paul Fleming wrote:

This book was rated one of the ten basic books for a working library of conjuring by H. Adrian Smith, historian, collector and owner of the largest private magic library in his time. It is a magnificent book featuring tricks from Germain, Conradi, Goldston, Okito, Elliott, and others. It is very difficult to get a hardcopy these days. Other books in this top 10 list are

• The Expert at the Card Table by S.W. Erdnase
• The Art of Magic by T. Nelson Downs
• Modern Magic by Prof. Hoffmann
• More Magic by Prof. Hoffmann
• Later Magic by Prof. Hoffmann
• The Modern Conjurer by C. Lang Neil
• Our Magic by Maskelyne and Devant
• Tarbell Course by Harlan Tarbell
• Greater Magic by John Northern Hilliard

Paul Fleming wrote:

The collaboration of T. Nelson Downs and John Northern Hilliard produced this wonderful book. Downs was the first to introduce an act with small objects onto the vaudeville stage. He was most famous for his coin manipulation, and in particular for his version of the "Miser's Dream". The Art of Magic covers sleights with cards, coins, and balls, and teaches many tricks and routines with detailed explanations from the master.

The card section in this book was epoch making. It features the first appearance in print of the side steal. Based on the number of pages dealing with card magic this is more a card book than...

Every generation a magician comes along, whose intention is to record magic in an encyclopedic fashion. Professor Hoffmann was the first in recorded history to attempt such a feat with his trilogy Modern Magic, More Magic, and Later Magic. Certainly many magic books have been published before him, mostly copying from each other. But none reaches the depth and breadth of Prof. Hoffmann's work. The material in these three books records the state of the art of magic in the late 19th century. Today we know more tricks and we have also refined our techniques and methods. But it is astounding how much was already known...

This is the second volume of the Hoffmann trilogy. If you liked Modern Magic you will love More Magic. There is too much to list. Refer to the 'Table of Contents' below for details. This book was rated one of the ten basic books for a working library of conjuring by H. Adrian Smith, historian, collector and owner of the largest private magic library in his time. Other books in this top 10 list are

• Magicians' Tricks by Henry Hatton and Adrian Plate
• The Expert at the Card Table by S.W. Erdnase
• The Art of Magic by T. Nelson Downs
• Modern Magic by Prof. Hoffmann
• Later Magic by Prof. Hoffmann
• The Modern Conjurer by C. Lang Neil
• Our Magic by Maskelyne and Devant
• Tarbell Course by Harlan Tarbell
• Greater Magic by John Northern Hilliard

It is the third volume of the Hoffmann trilogy. The 1911 edition was expanded by almost 200 pages with the chapters 'New Miscellaneous Tricks' and 'Recollections of Hartz the Wizard'. This expanded 1911 edition is what you will get here. This book was rated one of the ten basic books for a working library of conjuring by H. Adrian Smith, historian, collector and owner of the largest private magic library in his time. Other books in this top 10 list are

• Magicians' Tricks by Henry Hatton and Adrian Plate
• The Expert at the Card Table by S.W. Erdnase
• The Art of Magic by T. Nelson Downs
• Modern Magic by Prof. Hoffmann
• More Magic by Prof. Hoffmann
• The Modern Conjurer by C. Lang Neil
• Our Magic by Maskelyne and Devant ...

Latest Magic is the last book in Hoffmann's series Modern Magic, More Magic and Later Magic. Hoffmann had quite some problem finding a publisher for this book. The reason being the quality of the contents. When Modern Magic came out it explained new tricks and tricks which were performed at the time. Thus it was indeed 'modern'. It is also without a doubt the best book in the series. Latest Magic describes Hoffmann's own creations and dealt with a magic which was already considered old fashioned. From a historical perspective it still makes quite an interesting read.

1st edition, 1918, Spon & Chamberlain, New York; 2nd edition, 1919; 222...

After writing Later Magic, Professor Hoffmann intended to follow it with a fourth book. However, advancing age and other engagements compelled him to abandon it. Nevertheless he wrote this volume, which is not really a part of his trilogy, but functioned as a place to put the material he already collected. A few Hartz items in this book have been already dealt with in Later Magic. Otherwise the contents is new.

It is interesting to note that although Hoffmann writes in the preface to Magical Titbits that he abandoned the book which should have followed Later Magic, he authored in 1918 a book called Latest Magic which according to the...

This is number three of Jordan's Ten New Tricks Series. Charles Jordan was an excellent and very innovative magician. He collected in this booklet tricks with balls, ring and rope, thimbles, a book mystery and more.

1st edition, 1920, Charles T. Jordan, Penngrove, CA; 23 pages.

1. Preface
2. 1. The Cord Restored
5. 2. A New Ring Release
8. 3. Coin Divination by James J. Moren
10. 4. Another Date-Reading Trick
12. 5. The Ubiquitous Poker Chips
14. 6. The "Full-View" Color-Changing Thimble
17. 7. The Letter-Mailing Mystery
19. 8. A Clean Ball Production
21. 9. A Manipulative Opening
22. 10. The Book Mystery

This is number five of Jordan's Ten New Tricks Series with contributions by Dr. E. G. Ervin and Louis C. Haley. It includes some of the most popular effects formerly marketed singly by Jordan.

1st edition, 1920, Charles T. Jordan, Penngrove; 23 pages.

2. Preface
3. 1. The Mesmerized Alarm Clock
4. 2. A Silk Production From Empty Hands
6. 3. The Bewitching Umbrella
8. 4. The Vanishing Coin
10. 5. Paper Tearing Supreme
12. 6. New Coin Trick
14. 7. The Psychic Ring Release
16. 8. The Impromptu Mind Reader
20. 9. Up Your Sleeve
21. 10. The Mystic Knife

The inventor of "sawing a lady in half" has written quite an interesting book. It covers a good range of topics. Particularly the inclusion of fringe fields to magic, such as juggling and black art, makes this book unique. Certainly this is mainly a magic book, so tricks with handkerchiefs, and balls are many to be found as well as several interesting illusions. This book is in one other respect quite different to other books. The table of contents is in alphabetical order. So Selbit has kind of combined contents and index - interesting.

1st edition, 1901, Marshall & Brookes, London; 188...

A great little book from a great author. It is similar in style to the Hoffmann trilogy, though not as exhaustive. It covers the spectrum from little table tricks to grand illusions.

1st edition, 1901, Penn Publishing Company; 244 pages.

5. Preface
11. I. Introduction
    14. The Dress
    15. The Table
    16. The Servante
    18. The Wand
    19. Concluding Observations
26. II. Principles of Sleight of Hand Applicable to Small Objects
    26. Palming
    29. Le Tourniquet
    29. The Finger Palm
    31. To Change a Coin
33. III. Tricks with Coins
    33. Magical Production of a Coin
    33. A New Coin Fold
    34. Coin and Candle
    35. The Invisible Flight
    36. Vanish for Duplicate ...

This is my favorite magic book. The reason for this is that it was a groundbreaking book at the time it appeared and its contents is excellent. It was the first magic book that had photos instead of drawings or engravings throughout. And the contents is fantastic. It is one of the few books with a large chapter on chapeaugraphy. Add to this great chapters on shadowgraphy, plate spinning and paper folding. A large part is devoted to card magic, magic with coins, balls, and handkerchiefs, and much much more. If I would have to select one book this would be it. It is a book not many people know about. But you...

Today we have the Masked Magician exposing magic secrets. Eighty years ago it probably was done by writing a book without the author's name given. I do not know if this book falls in the category 'exposure'. It certainly is a book that clearly reveals a lot of interesting tricks. One is the bullet catch. It has nearly 200 excellent photographs. Card and coin manipulation is dealt with in great detail. Overall a very good book. The photographs are the outstanding part.

A review in the March 1909 Sphinx states:

The Magic Art is a book very much in the style of the Hoffmann books. It describes in particular the tricks invented or used by Mr. Holmes. Tarbell calls this book 'excellent' in the Tarbell Course. Holmes was a prolific author who wrote several other titles as well. In this volume he deals with all kind of props from pill boxes to cards, coins, handkerchiefs, gaffed glasses and the list continues.

Paul Fleming wrote:

After Tarbell finished his 60 lesson Tarbell Course he decided to continue with post-graduate lessons. The name post-graduate stems from the fact that Tarbell sent out graduation diplomas for all who followed along his 60 lesson course. To my knowledge he only published one such post-graduate lesson. If you know about more such lessons I would be delighted to hear from you.

1st edition, 1926, Tarbell System Inc., Chicago; 33 pages.

3. Tarbell Post-Graduate Service in Magic
5. The Original Rope Release
9. Three Silk Handkerchiefs Released from Ropes
12. A New Ghost Ring
17. A Button Off the Vest
21. The Kick-Back Card...

As Harry Leat writes in his introduction, the tricks in this book are not pocket tricks, but ones which rely on some clever piece of apparatus. Some of his ideas are ingenious and have never been published before. Harry Leat was quite a character and it shows in his creations and ideas.

1st edition, 1923, Harry Leat, London; 111 pages.

9. Introduction
12. The Mysterious Box of Parvo
29. "Bloodless" Writing on the Arm
31. Improved Card Frames
38. Mister Makeshift
41. The Necromantic Mummy
49. Improved Passe-Passe Bottles
55. The Only Bug
57. The Real Magic Funnel
64. The Travelling Glass
71. A Magical Accessory
75. Patter ...

An original blurb read: Tragic Magic containing original magical sketches, tricks, some humour, and many interesting items that will grip you.

From The Sphinx: And here is another one that awakens my cereberzation - Harry Leat's Tragic Magic. Here is a book of 122 pages of the queerest conglomeration of sense and non-sense, good magic and irrelative matter - yet relating to magic - that has yet crossed my rugged editorial path. The table of contents lists 42 items, and I advise the purchaser of the book not to skip a single one of them. I do not know why the book is named Tragic Magic, for the magic...

From The Sphinx: Diversified Magic is Harry Leat's latest contribution to magical lore. Diversified rightly describes the contents of the book. The variety is great, the quality superior, the originality genuine. Of the twenty chapters it is difficult to say which is the most interesting, and of the tricks and other effects, which is the best. The Organ Pipe Pagoda, and the Eclipse Ventriloquial Figure are alone worth more than the price of the book. Mr. Leat's introduction is full of matter for serious thought and consideration. The patter for the tricks, and the dialogue for the vent. figure are lively,...

This book is based on an interesting idea. Line up the best magic dealers and let each one contribute a series of tricks and routines. Not a bad idea indeed. Some of the dealers who participated are Davenport & Co., Gamage Ltd., Hamley Bros., The Magical Apparatus Co., ...

1st edition, 1924, Harry Leat, London; 100 pages.

9. Introduction.
   L. DAVENPORT & CO.
16. New Ball Holder.
17. New Card Drawer.
18. New Cigarette to Handkerchief.
19. Triangle Coin Stand and Box.
20. The New Production Box.
21. The Vanishing Lamp.
23. New Coffee Trick.
    PROFESSOR EDGAR.
26. Productive Candle Shade.
28. The "New Cut" Card Locator. ...

Just as the last release Magic of the Depots 1924, Depot Magic lines up several dealers to describe a few tricks each. However the most interesting article in this book is by Leo Rullman and is entitled "The Hobby of Book Collecting".

1st edition, 1925, Harry Leat, London; 92 pages.

6. A Bad Trait.
7. Liberty.
11. Introduction.
    Mr. CHARLES R. BRUSH
21. Two Handkerchief Secrets.
22. A Colour Study.
24. Magician's Wax.
25. The Cigarette Stand.
26. Magician's Elastic.
27. His End.
    MESSRS CHICAGO MAGIC Co.
29. The Magicians Card Box.
31. The Penetrated Card.
33. Improved Glass of Water Through Hat.
36. The Enchanged Tube.
    MESSRS B. L. GILBERT MAGIC...

This is the last book in the 'Magician Annual' series of Goldston. It carries a slightly different title, 'Annual of Magic' instead of 'Magician Annual', but otherwise is kept in the very same style and type of contents as all the other books in this series. Beside tricks, illusions and patter, you will find a lot about magicians of this era. For example the "Who's Who and Why" is an interesting article.

1st edition, 1916, Will Goldston, London; 72 pages.

• A
  24. Abbott's Spirit Paintings Illusion
  16. Adhering Pips and Blank Cards
  7. Advertise, How to
  5. Advice for the Student
  37. Aeroplane and Trunk...

This was the first Magician Annual Will Goldston compiled and edited. It covers quite some ground. From juggling and optical illusions, to ventriloquism and palmistry. Of course you will find also magic illusions, tricks and patter. And if you want to read a little bit about hoop rolling, you can, too. These Magician Annuals are real fun to read. They are a great window into the past.

1st edition 1908, Gamage Ltd., London; 98 pages.

4. The Editor to His Readers, Will Goldston
5. Juggling Manipulations, Paul Cinquevalli
7. Crayon Drawing for the Stage, J. F. Burrows
8. Barrel and Packing-Case Tricks,...

This is the second volume in Goldston's Magician Annual series. It has a nice little section on Chapeaugraphy and a large section on patents. You will find there all kind of improvements to various apparatuses. And there is biographical information and recollections of famous magicians as well as a lot of photos of celebrities.

1st edition, 1909, London; 96 pages.

7. The Editor to His Readers, Will Goldston
8. Comedy Jugglers, The Great Weiland
10. Famous Magicians, Robert Ankele
11. Living Marionettes, Leah Laurie
13. Card Tricks, Dr. Elliott
14. My First Appearance on the Stage as a Magician, W. N. Winget
15. Episodes...