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Svengali in Cards

A Svengali deck is a mechanical deck of playing cards comprising 26 ordinary cards, all different, alternating with 26 short cards.

Originally intended for forcing a card, but soon adopted to other magical purposes. The principle was known as early as 1584 when it was applied to the flick book, which Sam Sharpe asserts was the basis of the long-and-short card Svengali Deck. Whatever its inspiration, the Svengali Deck was invented by Burling Hull, patented by him in 1909, and marketed by him in 1910. Pirated by W.D. LeRoy who apparently renamed it Svengali, adopting the name of the fictitious evil hypnotist in George du Maurier's then current best-selling novel, Trilby (1894).

An improved version was invented by Ralph Hull and marketed as the Mirage Deck in 1934. Joe Stuthard's Trilby and Bi-Co Trilby Decks are variations on this deck. In the 1960s and 1970s, Marshall Brodien sold 17 million Svengali decks under the name TV Magic Cards. To this day it is a favorite pitch item.

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Dr. John D. Bain
Card Magic: a Svengali Deck Routine by Dr. John D. Bain

The Svengali deck of cards is a specially prepared deck of playing cards (Poker-sized or Bridge-sized) that can be used by magicians or entertainers to perform various tricks. The deck and the tricks performed with it are assisted by its unique design and require almost no skill. It is based on a very old principle of entertaining deception and confidence game manipulation.

The cards of the deck can be flipped or riffled to create the illusion that the deck is completely ordinary. It can even be apparently mixed and shuffled. The trick involves a spectator choosing a card from the deck and...

$2.99
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Lewis Ganson
Aces in Deception or "How Right You Are" by Lewis Ganson

An easy and effective multiphase routine with a Svengali deck. A spectator is correct continually in finding a previously selected card which the performer underlines with the punch line "How Right You Are."

From the introduction:

Here is one of those card routines in which the happenings are inexplicable to the uninitiated. The handling of the cards is so natural and each move is performed so deliberately, that trickery appears out of the question, yet a series of effects take place which really are uncanny.

To begin with, I will confess that a Svengali pack is used throughout and...

$10
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Mark Lewis
The Long and the Short of it by Mark Lewis

Moves, routines, and stories around the Svengali deck.

"Okay, I'm impressed!!! Your book on The Long and the Short of It is wonderful. I'm still working on a few of the moves that I never dreamed were possible with a Svengali Deck. Excellent Routine!!! You've definitely put in the time and have the expertise with this trick to be called a Master. You get 2 big thumbs way up for your book." - Doug Howe

"Mark Lewis has spent a considerable amount of time pitching Svengali decks. He has written a useful and succinct manuscript on the subject. There is no padding. The routine Mark explains...

★★★★★ $15
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Mark Lewis
The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Lewis by Mark Lewis

It's witty and it's full of wisdom. These are the ramblings of Mark Lewis on Internet forums. Irreverent and funny at times and full of deep thinking about magic and mentalism at other times.

Many incredible anecdotes of his varied life as a fortune teller, magician and hypnotist. In addition to this are techniques described on how to pitch svengali decks, how to do psychic readings, and most important of all how to do magic with showmanship and verve.

Included is a video clip of his legendary svengali deck routine which he has performed all over the world thousands of times plus tips...

★★★★★ $15
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Eddie St. John
The Pitchman's Svengali Routine by Eddie St. John

Make money at magic shows, fairs, carnivals, or simply entertain your audience with the Pitchman's Svengali Routine. Now you, too, can add extra income at your shows by demonstrating and selling Svengali Decks, using this carefully constructed routine. Built along the time-honored comedy sales pitch, as used by medicine men and carny hucksters, this routine includes full patter and presentation so not only is the audience entertained, but the spectators are also primed to buy.

In this revised and updated version, you also get wholesale sources and other valuable information to help ensure...

★★★★★ $8
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Joe Stuthard
Stuthard's Svengali Subtleties by Joe Stuthard

An excellent work on the Svengali Deck, including drawings and photos.

  • Mechanics Of Svengali Deck
  • Handling The Svengali Deck
  • Main Points To Remember
  • Running The Cards
  • Double Lift
  • The Riffle Shuffle
  • The Overhand Shuffle
  • The Fan
  • The Spread
  • The Drop
  • Effects With Svengali Deck
  • Stabbing Trick No. 1
  • Stabbing Trick No. 2
  • Stuthard’s Svengali Subtlety
  • Methods Of Switching Deck To Ordinary Cards
  • Suggested Routine With The Svengali Deck
  • Finally

1st edition 1948, 15 pages; PDF 13 pages.

★★★★★ $8
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Devin Knight
The Svengali Fooler by Devin Knight

This is a new effect from Devin Knight's recent East Coast lecture tour. It uses a special Svengali deck in a way that magicians will never suspect. So you know, you will need to own or buy a Svengali Deck and gimmick it to do this trick. Take this to your next magic club meeting and puzzle the members.

EFFECT: The performer shows a deck of cards and mixes them. He invites a spectator to stop him as he deals the cards face down on the table. The person can stop him anywhere in the deal, there are no restrictions. The performer deals until the person says stop. The performer shows the card...

★★★★ $3
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Magic Ian
110 Tricks with a Svengali Deck by Magic Ian

The Svengali Deck is an ingenious magic deck of cards. You can learn over 110 amazing tricks and routines. Some of the tricks you will be able to do:

  • Show a normal deck - then change all the cards to the previously selected card.
  • Seal a card in an envelope - then have spectator pick the card in the envelope.
  • Spectator stabs the deck - the selected card is where the person inserts the blade.
  • The selected card appears in your pocket or anywhere else.
  • The card that was selected appears anyplace where the spectator cuts into the deck.
  • and much more
This is a revision of the Al Stevenson...
★★★★ $2
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Jim McKeague
The Best 200 Tricks With A Svengali Deck by Jim McKeague

This exclusive book has now been republished as an ebook. Encyclopaedic in scope, with notes on making, handling, pitching, and performing in a variety of situations.

Contents

  • Handling the Svengali Deck
  • Pitching the Svengali Deck
  • About the Tricks
  • Impromptu
  • Almost Impromptu
  • Multi-Method Classics
  • Novelty Revelations
  • Things going wrong, and sucker effects
  • Apparatus Required
  • Special Decks
  • Publicity, Promotion, Spectacle
  • Using sleights and moves
  • Miscellaneous
  • The Last Word

1st edition 1999, 181 pages.

★★★★ $10
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Walt Lees
The Art of the Grafter: a pitchman guide to selling by Walt Lees

This ebook holds extremely valuable information for anybody who would like to become a pitchman or grafter who sells Svengali decks and other items. Even if you do not sell as a pitchman, but perform on the street or other public venues you will learn quite a bit from Walt Lees.

Some of the points discussed are:

  • Which magic tricks are suitable for pitching?
  • Types of pitching
  • Earnings and rewards
  • Requirements of a good pitchman
  • Styles of pitching
  • Choosing a good site
  • Peek selling times
  • What to have with you
  • Dealing with complaints, hecklers, pilferers, non-buyers, aggro merchants,...
★★★★ $10
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Chris Wardle & Paul Hallas
Beyond Svengali: applying the svengali principle to mentalism by Chris Wardle & Paul Hallas

Here, Chris Wardle explores the use of long and short cards (Svengali Deck style) for mental magic presentations. Whilst initially he gives some background to the Svengali deck and how to make and handle one, some routines use variants on the deck and several don't use playing cards at all. There are thirteen routines from Chris plus some additional commentary and a bonus routine from publisher Paul Hallas. Chances are after reading this you'll not think of the Svengali deck in the same way again.

Since the appearance of this booklet (his third) Chris authored Magic For Everyone (2006) and...

★★★★★ $12
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Seth Briliant
The Svengali Pitchman's Handbook by Seth Briliant

Twenty-five pages of previously unpublished information on successful pitching – tips, ideas, and insights from highly experienced pitchmen. What to wear, details on the joint, and more. A valuable addition to the Don Driver Svengali DVD on pitching the Svengali and the Don Driver Interview.

1st edition 2009, PDF 25 pages.

★★★★★ $20
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Don Driver
The Svengali Pitch: The Real Work by Don Driver

The Comprehensive Guide to Making Money Pitching Svengali Decks

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been made on selling the humble Svengali Deck and yet few people ever learned the inner secrets of how to pitch the deck successfully. This DVD fills that shortage.

Don Driver pitched for twenty-five years all over the country. He learned his pitch from S. David Walker, the Grand old Man of Svengali pitching who has been at it since the early 1940s. Mr. Walker learned from Mickey MacDougall, the creator of the Svengali pitch.

Explained in detail is a pitch that has been polished and...

★★★★★ $25
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Walt Lees
How To Make Big Money Selling Magic by Walt Lees

This recording gives all the secrets of grafting or pitching. Walt reveals the secrets that enabled him to earn a handsome living pitching such items as Svengali decks, the coin and glass, three card trick, and other tricks of the grafter's trade. You will find everything from the grafter's own language and terminology, to the pitches, and how to make the products.

Walt Lees is a born pitchman. His voice draws you in. It plays with your mind, you are getting interested, intrigued, fascinated, excited, until you can't hold it anymore - you must have this trick - you buy it, and the pitchman...

★★★★★ $19
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