Cards in Magic & Conjuring

Almost as challenging as reading all the card and coin material Ed Marlo packed into the 22 years of M.I.N.T. (1963-1985), is locating specific pieces of material when you want to study or review them. You certainly aren't going to learn it all in one sitting. Moreover, both Ed and Wesley liberally reference the works of other authors and their published material. With the Annotated M.I.N.T. series now complete in 14 volumes, this 15th volume will make it far easier to locate any Ed Marlo or Wesley James material from the series, as well as other referenced Indexed contributors to magic's...

The Annotated M.I.N.T. series concludes. It is now complete. Thanks to Ed Marlo and Wesley James, M.I.N.T III, IV, V, VI, and Annotated M.I.N.T. 1963 - 1979 (M.I.N.T. I, and II) are now available in 14 Volumes, plus, in a 15th volume, all the Index, Table of Contents, and Bibliography for all 14 volumes. After releasing M.I.N.T III through VI, and Annotated M.I.N.T 1963 through 1976 this volume again departs by including three years of material. It includes the years 1977-1979 - comprised of some longer and broader Marlo explorations. As Wesley progressed toward completing the full run of...

Price will increase to $19.97 on October 9th, 2024.

Estimation is a secret weapon that enables you to create seemingly impossible effects. While it may appear challenging at first, mastering this skill is more possible than you might expect. When executed correctly, the results can be truly amazing.

This comprehensive eBook covers all aspects of estimation, including prerequisites, fundamental principles, and the distinctions between "in the hands" and "on the table" estimation techniques. It also provides practical advice and describes various effects that can be achieved through estimation....

A spectacular series of 'sandwiches' with a deck of cards.

Aldo Colombini is back with Checkmate, another full routine never before published in English. The routine takes full advantage of the 'sandwich' theme, where selected cards mysteriously appear between pairs of Kings, and escalates into a series of transpositions and revelations that defy logic.

Much impressive is the “instant sandwich transposition”, where a selected card (that can be signed) instantly transposes from between the red Kings to between the black Kings while they are in the midst of two different packets. Each...

A spectator names a number from 1 to 5. The magician takes the deck of cards, shuffles it, and after doing so, lays the cards out like a ribbon on the table, and only 4 cards remain face up, that is, the four-of-a-kind poker hand made up of the number chosen by the spectator.

1st edition 2024, PDF 4 pages.

This ebook is packed with amazing card magic. Intended for advanced card workers, this is expert material for the person who wants top-notch, subtle work. It contains 45 great tricks.

• Author's Remarks
• Barnhart's Fan Steal
• Johnson's False Cut
• Gusias' Fancy Lift
• Marlo's Two Card Throw
• The "S" Shaped Turn Over
• Push-In Ace Control
• Imperfection Force
• Best Two Card Pushoff
• Marlo's Gambling Routine
• The Sucker Hand
• Bridge Honors
• Marlo's Miracle Routine
• Cards By Weight
• Miracle Location
• The Prediction
• A Straight Flush
• Perfect Bridge Hand
• The Rummy Game
• Faro Aces
• Just Imagine
• The Punch Deal
• Marlo's...

A spectator, very inexplicably, leads the performer to produce a four-of-kind poker hand in a very casual manner. The second is my version of an effect by John Mendoza also published in the book I dedicated to him, called 1-2-3-4 & 5 Ambitious.

1st edition 2024, PDF 4 pages.

The routine is built on different principles learned from different authors who have dedicated themselves to the exploration of this path.

Effect: A spectator chooses a pair of cards and another a second pair of cards. A third spectator will choose one of the two pairs and put them in his pocket without seeing their faces. At this point, 27 cards are shown and the third spectator will always have to think of one of those he sees and then indicate 3 times where it went to be placed but always without ever saying its name. Once this is done, the deck is shuffled and only at this point the...

Selected card at selected number.

This is a very clean "selected card at selected number" effect. The spectator selects a card, shuffles to lose the card, selects a number, and the card is miraculously found at the number. A performance video can be seen below.

Imagine:

The magician introduces a deck, spreads it face up to display that all the cards are different and in no particular order, and then hands it to the spectator. He invites them to cut off about a third of the deck and to look at the bottom card of the cut-off portion as their selection. The magician then asks them to thoroughly...

A spoof prediction routine with a surprising magical ending.

Here's a really fun, entertaining, and surprising card routine for magic or mentalism performances from a longtime pro, Scott F. Guinn.

After introducing a folded paper labeled "My Premonition," four different spectators each select a card. The chosen cards are left face up on the table. You reveal a series of amusing predictions on the paper that are . . . not so impressive. Everyone believes the whole thing is just a joke. But, then you spread the deck revealing all blue backs, before turning over the selections to reveal...

A semi-automatic card magic effect in which the magician, using some cards from the deck, narrates an adventure characterized by thrill and mystery that will end with a disturbing final surprise.

This is a new effect where the magician, using a deck of cards, narrates the adventure of four bold young men (the protagonists, chosen at the “stop” by a spectator) who, on a dark and stormy night, meet three daredevil girls, who magically jumped into the center of the story by being the only cards turned face-up in the middle of the deck.

Gathered to face the night, they will find nothing...

Before moving to the US, Aldo Colombini wrote several books in Italian. These books contain tricks and routines that have never been published in English. So, we decided to gradually make these works available in English. As friends of the late Aldo, we believe that none of his wonderful creations should be lost. This is the first translation. If there is a good reception, we will continue this work.

From the introduction

A selected card vanishes, penetrates a card box, and appears in a sandwich in the cased deck.

Two decks, in their cases, are brought into play. One is red and one is blue. Barry selects one and you hand it to him (we'll assume he chose blue). You take the red deck out of the case and spread it face up and face down to show it is normal before removing the two black jacks. You insert the jacks face-up into two different places in the face-down deck. You then return the red deck to its case and close the case.

Barry removes the blue deck from its case, looks through it, and removes any...

Using the spectator's deck, you predict two cards that the spectator will stop at and cut to without touching the deck. And the exciting twist: You make your predictions, and then the spectator shuffles the deck! Any deck, no setup, no reset, and easy to perform. When asked to do a card trick, this is the one you will showcase.

1st edition 2024, PDF 12 pages.

A Very Great Deal is a feature card routine straight from Scott's real-world performing repertoire.

"A Very Great Deal by Scott Guinn IS a very great deal! This is jam-packed with fun, audience participation, and a terrific surprise ending. This is worth adding to your repertoire." - John Luka

Effect: Cody is handed the deck, which he shuffles and cuts to his heart's content. You introduce a small, sealed envelope and give it to Anna to guard. Cody selects a card. You give him the opportunity to take a different one. When he decides on a card, it is placed face down on the table in full...

A triple open prediction.

Tri-Optical Illusion combines Paul Curry's "Open Prediction" plot with John Scarne's "Triple Coincidence," without all the dealing, shuffling, and cutting found in its progenitors. It is also stupid-easy without sacrificing a powerful impact. It does require some gimmicked cards. But if you have been doing card magic for any length of time, you almost certainly already have what you need. (If you don't, all the necessary items can be purchased from your favorite dealer for about $13.)

Those who learn and perform this will find it to be a powerful and amazing routine that is a welcome...

The Red Black Divination plot is simple and perplexing, and it is one of the few effects that the more you do it, the more amazing it becomes. My method uses no peeks, shiners, or smartphones, and can be done with a borrowed deck. I created a three-part phase, each phase seeming more impossible. I also created an optional kicker that requires a setup. Once I tip the secret, you will smile. This is an effect you will do.

1st edition 2024, PDF 12 pages.

A powerful card routine with 5 climaxes.

"I've had a lot of fun with this. Like a great Scott F. Guinn effect, it has a minimum of moves and a maximum impact. I love the ending in the second version when the selection is revealed. Recommended!" - Victor Brisbin

Scott F. Guinn explains three variations of a card routine with five separate climaxes that will entertain and amaze any audience. In progressively stronger revelations, you prove beyond any doubt that you knew in advance the spectator’s mentally selected time of day and her chosen card.

5-Alarm Clock, the first version...

This ebook is about a principle (a shuffling principle) that I discovered. More accurately, it is an extension of an already existing shuffling principle. In the original principle, the deck can be given one riffle shuffle at the end of a card location routine, after which the selected card can be located. In my variant principle, the deck can be given not one but two riffle shuffles at the end of a card location routine, after which the selected card can be located.

The ebook contains a detailed essay on both the original principle and the new principle, where the two principles are compared....

Experience the fascinating blend of artificial intelligence and card magic with this intriguing routine. Watch as seemingly random guesses transform into astonishingly accurate predictions of card suits.

Imagine a spectator freely selects ten cards for an experiment. In the training phase, you boldly attempt to predict the suits of these cards using mere chance or intuition - your model's default policy. Initially, your guesses mostly miss the mark, but each miss serves as crucial data for refining your approach.

Next, armed with insights gained from the training, you meticulously adjust...

A bunch of cards are removed from the deck after a few shuffles. The participant looks at them and freely selects one. All the cards are then mixed in a messy pile and "wash-shuffled".

Under these impossible conditions, you reach into the pile and dig out a single card: the mate of the participant's card.

• No memory work
• No marked cards
• An alternative ending is explained

1st edition 2024, PDF 7 pages.

The trick that fooled the best cardmen in the world.

"'The Exception' totally fooled me. The method is diabolical. All the avenues to explanation are blocked. That's what an impossible location is supposed to do. And this trick does it." - Mike Powers

"'The Exception' is composed of several known and reliable methods arranged in a way that will make them unrecognizable to most students of card magic methodology. If you are looking for something quick and easy to add to your existing strolling set, this is probably not for you. However, if you're a fan of impossible locations that employ an ordinary...

The Annotated M.I.N.T. series continues and nears completion. Thanks to Ed Marlo and Wesley James, M.I.N.T III, IV, V, VI, and Annotated M.I.N.T. 1963 - 1974 are already available. After releasing M.I.N.T III through VI, and Annotated M.I.N.T 1963, 64, 65, 66, 67, and 68, then combined year volumes, 1969-1974, the articles in this volume again depart. It includes the years 1975-1976 - comprised of somewhat longer Marlo explorations. As Wesley progresses toward completing the full run of Marlo In New Tops material, plus his extensive annotations, observations, and Bonus material, he wanted...

This is a revised version of the classic Parade Of The Kings packet trick from the 1970s.

Four blue-backed cards are counted face down and the performer explains that these are the four Kings. Two spectators between them decide on one of the Kings. Immediately the magician spreads the cards to reveal the chosen King has now magically turned face up.

But there is a further surprise when the back of this King is shown to have also now changed to red.

Then there is a final kicker when the other three face-down Kings are turned face up to reveal they are in fact three blank-faced cards...

Doctor Jacob Daley was one of the most respected sleight-of-hand artists of the twentieth century. This acclaimed New York performer left the magic fraternity an astonishing cache of published works, from the acclaimed Stars Of Magic series to prized entries in assorted books and magazines.

Three Daley Deceits offers a new look at three of the Doctor's most celebrated card mysteries, carefully revised by Australian cardman Ian Baxter.

Daley's Aces - In Spades is Baxter's spin on this ever-popular transposition. The four Aces from the deck are slowly and deliberately placed on the table, Hearts and Diamonds...

If you think packet card effects are "hot", but some of your audience don't, you should read this book. Many very good packet card effects do not find favor with some audiences. Kids don't understand playing cards. Teenagers of the fairer sex just don't "dig" card tricks (or most magic tricks for that matter). Many ladies will hide a polite yawn. As will some gentlemen when preoccupied with more "spiritual" pastimes.

But a slight twist in the tale could change their perception. And this is what this manuscript aims at. Here are your (and my) favorite packet tricks, "dressed to please"....

This ebook is not about any particular effect but rather is about a principle that you can apply to certain types of effects in order to double their fool factor. The principle makes it possible to create the illusion of a shuffle where a shuffle wouldn't otherwise be possible. There are many effects in which the deck can only be cut at the end (not shuffled). With the application of this principle, you can create the illusion of a shuffle. Best of all, the illusion can be created with the spectator themself shuffling.

That's not to say this principle can be applied to just any effect....

The Wild Card effect has been one of my favorite packet effects from as far back as I can remember and is indisputably one of the best card packet effects of all time. Unfortunately, in its original form, it does not meet my concept of good magic. It does not answer the basic audience dilemma - "Why does he do it ?"

I know transformations (anything that changes) are part of a magic effect, but there ought to be some reason for it. If a performer changes blank paper to currency notes, that's logical, it's something everyone in the audience would like to do. If he changes a silk to an egg,...

In this fantastic ebook, you'll find the truly impromptu tricks found in The Encyclopedia of Card Tricks, together with dozens of notes not found in the original. These notes add new and interesting tricks and fresh ideas for presentation and even patter in some instances. But that's not all. We have added many illustrations that help clarify the description of certain tricks. Another thing we have done is adding, in some cases, the original advertisements that were used to sell these tricks when they were put on sale way back then.

Truly impromptu means that you take a normal shuffled deck and immediately, with no preparation...

Excerpt from the foreword:

Excerpt from the introduction:

A blue-backed deck is openly displayed and one card is selected from the face-down deck. Cutting the selection back into the pack and shuffling the deck, the performer offers to find the selection quickly and effectively.

Snapping his fingers over the deck, he turns the cards face down and spreads through the entire deck to reveal that every card back has changed from blue to red, except for just one card, and that turns out to be the selected card!

No sleight of hand is required, this is designed to instantly re-set in front of the spectators and everything takes place up in your hands,...

Fifteen excellent pasteboard effects, all easy to perform, as they require little or no skill.

The contents include "Unbelievable Coincidence" which in itself is worth more than the price of the entire book; "U-Find-Our-Cards," a chapter wherein spectators unknowingly discover their own selected cards in a puzzling fashion; and "Auto-Graphic Minds," which will never fail to bewilder the closest observer. Plus additional tricks of a professional caliber.

Here is a collection of the very smartest magic, devised and used in his own act by Lu Brent, the top-notch Philadelphia professional...

Cards across

The Thirty Card Trick is a magical classic that can be done on stage as well as close up. It is entertaining to all types of audiences. The classic method (Magicians' Tricks by Hatton and Plate) used sleight of hand and math chicanery. Zens used envelopes. Crandall used roughing fluid. You should find this method one of the best because instead of making the passing of three cards an arbitrary choice it offers a logical reason for using three. Also, there is very strong misdirection. Each step is clearly explained along with the reasoning.

The moves are well covered by misdirection and by having unbalanced...

Three pre-folded cards are tipped from a card box and displayed as being a QH and two blank cards. The three cards are folded to conceal their faces and arranged in a row on the table ready for the classic Find The Lady. Having mixed the positions of the three cards, the one that should be the QH is opened to reveal it is in fact one of the blanks. That’s surprise no. 1. Surprise no. 2 comes when the other two cards are unfolded to reveal they are both blanks as well! The QH has completely disappeared. Surprise no. 3 is revealed when the QH is found folded inside the card box that has been...

An incredible impromptu effect that uses all court cards in the deck to tell a story dense with mysteries.

This is a packet trick that tells the magical solution to a mystery. An impromptu card effect that, borrowing all the pictures from the deck, uses those to tell the story of a mysterious disappearance at a prestigious dance party reserved for these four aristocratic families.

The illusionist, after shuffling the twelve cards, gives them to cut and complete to a spectator who then, by rolling two dice (even if only imaginary ones) decides the precise moment when the mysterious vanishing...

This effect was invented by Herbert Milton and made popular by Karl Germain. The improved method needs no double-faced cards and can be done impromptu providing the right type of glass is available. This visual effect can be performed at any time in your act and it may be done silently, with talk, or to music.

EFFECT: A shuffled deck of cards is placed in a stem goblet. Each time a handkerchief is flicked in front of the glass an ace appears.

This is Ray's totally impromptu method for a classic effect - one that has recently found favor with a number of well-heeled modern performers....

To all magicians, amateur and professional - here is a loaded question:

Have you ever been bored silly watching a magician perform a spelling trick?

This is contentious and very obviously axiomatic. Quoting from the Preface of his new manuscript, Australian card man Ian Baxter comments: "Unfortunately, spelling effects in card magic hold the onerous title of being the most laborious, boring presentations imaginable."

This is the point at issue - boredom setting in, thanks to the tedium of endless counting and spelling, usually propped up with trivial patter. Such effects are simply...

This hard-to-find book of eleven clever card effects was ahead of its time and still plays well to today's audiences. While not self-working, magicians with ordinary card ability can do them all.

The effects include:

• An Instantaneous Detection
• The Haunted Whisper
• The Hazy Pips
• From Another Deck
• A Joker Location
• Another Joker Location
• Blowing the Pips
• A New Reverse Location
• Upside Down
• The Phantom Pips
• Topsy-Turvy Location

Acclaimed by close-up masters including Dai Vernon and Charlie Miller, McMillen and Brown were known as the most skillful card performers on the Pacific coast. Those who knew...

A more magical version of the trick "Bigger" found in the Mark Wilson Course in Magic

A paper bag gets inspected, and 3 cards are chosen and put on display on the volunteer's body. A different deck is shuffled and dropped into the paper bag, and the spectator shakes the bag to shuffle the cards. Reaching into the bag, and without looking, 2 of the matching cards are found. The third card – the bigger card - is found because it is a jumbo card.

A little arts and crafts are required.

1st edition 2024, PDF 24 pages.

Time to open a can of whoop ass!

The business card of the fortune teller Madame Magdelaine De La Grange has been torn in two. The spectator retains one piece. The other piece vanishes and appears stuck to the back of the spectator's selected card. The piece retained by the spectator matches the piece on the card perfectly.

A bizarre effect without precedent.

No palming. No angles. Resets automatically. You will need a Himber or Z-fold wallet.

1st edition 2024, PDF 12 pages.

From the prologue by Billy McComb: