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Illusions, Escape & Stage in Magic & Conjuring

The best illusionists of today, Lance Burton, David Copperfield, Penn & Teller, Siegfried & Roy and Criss Angel all use the same principles of deception you can learn here in these ebooks. They might have more stage hands and bigger stages, but the principles and methods are well known and you can learn about them. And concerning escapes, nobody has reached more popularity than Harry Houdini. Even decades after his death his name still is familiar and people know who he is. His magic was lousy his escape work and public relations acumen are unmatched. David Blaine tries to take Houdini's place, but boy does he have a long way to go to reach the master.

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Ulysses Frederick Grant
Grant's Illusion Secrets by Ulysses Frederick Grant

Chuck Smith writes: "Twenty-four illusions as mysterious to audiences today as when they were performed years ago. Most are so easy to construct and execute that a teenager could do them. I know because I, as a student in highschool, built and entertained with several of them. A couple of three fold screens and a large sheet gives you the material for several of the illusions. Recently in a magic periodical I saw an ad for an illusion that looked extremely familiar. It was selling for over $5000. It's method, I'm sure, had it's roots in Grant's Super-Fine Suspension on pages 27-28 of this book....I...

★★★★ $5
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Harry Houdini
Handcuff Secrets by Harry Houdini

Houdini shines in this book. Handcuffs are his passion. He knows every little detail about them and every nuance in their mechanism. Houdini was not a particular good magician, but as an escape artist he is still unsurpassed. Thus, if you would like to know more about handcuffs and their inner workings, this book is for you.

1st edition, 1909, George Routledge & Sons, London; later reprinted by Magico Magazine, New York; 110 pages.

  1. Preface
  2. I.Introductory
  3. II.Opening Sealed Handcuffs
  4. III.Blunders of some Handcuff Exposers
  5. IV.Fake or Spoof Manacle
  6. V.American Manacles
  7. VI.French Letter...
★★★★★ $2.50
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Harry Houdini
Magical Rope Ties and Escapes by Harry Houdini

This is one of the best books by Houdini, because here he writes about something he really knows a lot about. With many of his escapes he had to be very familiar with the knots he was tied up. This book has many good illustrations and several photos where Houdini himself demonstrates certain ties. It is a great collector item as well as source of information. If you can only buy one book by Houdini, by this one.

1st edition, 1920, Will Goldston Limited, London; 80 pages.

  1. Photograph - Ira E. Davenport and "Houdini".
  2. Foreword
  3. For Opening of Rope Act
  4. A Simple Release
  5. The Kellar Tie ...
★★★★★ $8
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Will Goldston
Tricks and Illusions by Will Goldston

This book has an excellent illusion section, a decent chapter about escape artistry and also a fairly large trick section with all kinds of routines with cards, silks, ... The really good part are the illusions. You will find several clever ideas. Will Goldston was himself a craftsman and illusion builder. He can therefore write with authority.

1st edition, 1908?, George Routledge & Sons, London; 259 pages.

  1. Introduction
    PART I - TRICKS
  2. New Card Catching on Plate
  3. The Floating Disc Mystery
  4. The Devo Torn Card
  5. The Hildyard Target and Cage Illusion
  6. The Handkerchief and Sword
  7. A Dancing...
★★★★ $7
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Matt Garner & David Garner
Packing Crate Escape or Sub-Trunk Illusions Plan by Matt Garner & David Garner

This is a very clear description of how to build a Houdini-style Sub Trunk from readily available parts. Matt added several clear photos to illustrate various stages and subassemblies. If you have never built an illusion or if you don't know the secret of this classic trick, you will find this ebook very useful.

1st edition, 2004

★★★★ $7
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unknown
Learn How to be a Handcuff King and Mystery Man by unknown

This booklet covers a good selection of Houdini-style escape illusions. Among others you will learn how to escape from a safe or vault or trunk. It teaches several rope ties, how to pick locks and how to escape from handcuffs. This is a worthwhile addition to your escapology library.

24 pages.

  1. Preface
  2. No 1: A Great Handcuff Trick
  3. No 2: Escape From A Safe Or Vault
  4. No 3: The Vanishing Assistant
  5. No 4: The Crack Marksman
  6. No 5: The Marvelous Levitation Act
  7. No 6: The Excelsior Rope Tie
  8. No 7: The Wonderful Trunk Escape
  9. No 8: Escape From 75 Feet Of Rope
  10. No 9: The Siberian Chain Escape ...
★★★★ $2
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Ulysses Frederick Grant
Victory Carton Illusions by Ulysses Frederick Grant

Few people consider paper, cardboard and carton high-tech products, but they are. Go visit any paper factory and you will find out that some of the largest and most complex manufacturing machines in operation today are paper machines.

Since my father worked for many years for a paper manufacturer, I have learned to respect paper from a very early age. This is part of the reason why I am so excited about this e-book. It describes 12 stage illusions which you can build entirely from carton. Carton is inexpensive, easy to work with, light weight, pretty durable and packs flat. These are characteristics...

★★★★ $9
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Jim Kleefeld
The Arabian Tent Illusion by Jim Kleefeld

The Arabian Tent Illusion was created by Gen Grant, explored in Mark Wilson's Course in Magic and marketed by Creative Magic. It presents a unique palette on which to design an illusion theme. The flat framework panels present a rectangular peaked "house" structure that can be painted in any of myriad designs. This ebook explores many design concepts for this illusion and presents here original artwork and routines. The routines are completely planned, and employ a variety of techniques that use the Arabian Tent to produce and vanish characters and objects in original plots. Some involve simple re-decoration...

★★★★ $25
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Ron Jaxon
"Almost" Impromptu Vanishing Car by Ron Jaxon

Imagine being able to make your friends car vanish into thin air. You can also make their car appear or change with these methods using no large props what so ever. In fact chances are you already have everything you need to perform this trick so it'll most likely cost you nothing.

I want to be completely honest about the limitations and strengths of this trick. So here are a few questions I feel I'd be most likely to get about this trick.

Is it practical?
Yes and no would be my answer to that question. It's unlikely that you'll perform this trick on a regular basis although it is possible....

★★★ $10
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Robert Harbin
Robert Harbin Interview by Robert Harbin

Martin Breese interviewed Robert Harbin on March 26th, 1977, not even one year before Harbin's untimely death. The interview took place at Harbin's home in London, England.

Spend 90 minutes listening to Robert Harbin - one of the world's most creative illusionists and inventors. Here is the full life story of the man who invented Zig Zag and a number of other illusions that will be performed by magicians over the years to come. Since making the recording Robert Harbin became ill and died. The words spoken on this tape were used as the basis for The Robert Harbin Book published by Martin Breese....

★★★ $14
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Stan Kramien
The Illusion Show Business by Stan Kramien

Stan Kramien has toured one of the countries largest and most successful Illusion Shows for many years. Magicapades, Magicazam, the Mad World of Magic, and now Shazam! After playing thousands of dates he has written a primer of success in the Illusion Show Business.

Stan's ebook takes you through his life story where he sets the stage for his life as an illusionist. For the first time anywhere Stan divulges patter for many of the illusions.

Kramien's patter for the levitation alone is worth more than the cost of the ebook.

He tells you how to start and routine a full evening show....

★★★★ $37.50
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Aaron Chee
Base Planning by Aaron Chee

If you are looking for a detailed and informative plan to fabricate a deceptive base then Base Planning is the right ebook for you. On 25 pages with over 70 detailed diagrams and photos Aaron Chee describes everything clearly. Base Planning is suitable for beginner builders or professional builders. Even if you are not a builder Base Planning will guide you from scratch to the end product. The ebook covers: safety issues, positions and conditions, design and measurement, type of base, construction and finishes.

"The base planning ebook by Aaron Chee is one of the finest ebooks on illusion...

★★★★ $15
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Lewis Ganson
Zombie: The Floating Ball Teach-In by Lewis Ganson

Supreme moves, Will Ayling's routine, Luis Gavilondo's "Sacred Sun Ball". Photographed and written by Lewis Ganson. This was part of the famous Ganson Teach-In series originally published by Supreme Magic Inc. Rights are now owned by Martin Breese whom we thank for the kind permission to reproduce this booklet.

[Get the full collection of all 17 Teach-Ins at a huge discount.

1st edition 1977; original 35 pages; PDF 44 pages.

  1. Contents
  2. Introduction
  3. Supreme Moves
  4. - Requirements
  5. - Set-Up
  6. Performance
  7. - The Get-Ready
  8. - The Ball Rises
  9. - The Ball Rises Into View
  10. - The Ball Floats Along The Arm
  11. - Around The Body
  12. - The Ball Suspends...
★★★★ $9.50
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Lewis Ganson
The Floating and Dancing Cane Teach-In by Lewis Ganson

Including R. C. Buff's original routine for the Floating Walking Stick and Lewis Ganson's routine for the Dancing Walking Stick. This was part of the famous Ganson Teach-In series originally published by Supreme Magic Inc. Rights are now owned by Martin Breese whom we thank for the kind permission to reproduce this booklet.

[Get the full collection of all 17 Teach-Ins at a huge discount.

1st edition 1977; original 27 pages; PDF 34 pages.

  1. Contents
  2. The Floating and Dancing Walking Stick
  3. The Stick Dances
  4. The Stick Floats
  5. The Floating Walking Stick
  6. - "The Balance"
  7. - The Floating Moves
  8. - The Stick Rises And Falls
  9. - The Stick Floats ...
★★★★★ $9.50
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Mark Parker
Vivisectioned by Mark Parker

This is a beautiful and professional illusion. The effect is stunning and would fit into any Las Vegas type illusion show presented by headliners such as Lance Burton, Copperfield or Siegfried and Roy.

This ebook tells you how it is performed and how the apparatus works. However, this is not an easy illusion to build. This ebook does not include detailed blueprints you can immediately work from. You will understand how it works and you do get some very good illustrations, but you will need experience building illusions to actually build this.

1st edition 2008; 15 pages.

★★★★★ $25
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Ulysses Frederick Grant
Floating Light Bulb by Ulysses Frederick Grant

Although the original title of this manuscript is "Close-Up Floating Light Bulb", this is not a close-up effect but a stage effect. The method would not allow you to perform this in an intimate close-up setting.

With the aid of a hoop you let a light bulb float, rise and descend.

6 pages

★★★★★ $4
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Ulysses Frederick Grant
Modern Illusions by Ulysses Frederick Grant

Although published anonymously, this was very likely written by U. F. Grant. 19 easy to build illusions.

  1. Atomic Sight
  2. The Bunny Girl Illusion
  3. Chen Lee’s Laundry Bag Illusion
  4. Flat Model Head Vanish
  5. The Gate - Way Illusion
  6. Ghost & Witch
  7. Resista
  8. The Miracle Dove Act
  9. Modern Sawing Thru A Girl
  10. Nu-Way Doll House
  11. Nu-Tronic Spirit Cabinet
  12. Shooting Thru A Girl
  13. Spot-Lite Girl Vanish
  14. Superior Dove Vanish
  15. The Girl In The Balloon Illusion
  16. Torture Of A Princess
  17. The Victory Girl Production
  18. Witch's Broom & Rope Illusion
  19. The Zig Zag
★★★★ $7
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Ulysses Frederick Grant
Modern Levitations by Ulysses Frederick Grant

Five easy to build and practical levitations by the creative master of thrift, U.F. Grant. One could even be called an impromptu levitation because most supplies are available in a typical household. Every levitation is illustrated.

Paul Fleming wrote:

The "levitation" illusion has long been a favorite among magicians. Robert-Houdin featured it approximately a century ago, in the form of "The Aerial Suspension," which we saw presented effectively by William Neff only a year or two ago. Early in the Twentieth Century, Harry Kellar was performing "The Levitation of Princess Karnac," the greatest piece...

★★★★★ $7
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Ulysses Frederick Grant
Bodies in Orbit by Ulysses Frederick Grant

Self-levitations have been recently popularized by street performers like David Blaine and others. U.F. Grant as usual was way ahead. Here you will find a lovely self-levitation as well as four other easy to build levitation apparatus.

If you are into levitations you should also check out Modern Levitations by U.F. Grant.

14 pages

  1. Contents
  2. Introduction
  3. Uncanny Self-Levitation
  4. Casket Asrah
  5. Girls In The Air
  6. Easy-Do Board Suspension
  7. The Floating Head Illusion
★★★ $7
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Alan Alan
Professional Performing Advice by Alan Alan

Two volumes and amongst the most valuable to the young performer who wants really practical professional advice right from the start. Alan Alan is one of the world's most highly paid escapologists and without revealing his very closest secrets he explains how the simplest stunt or effect can be built up into a great money-making act.

An extract from Alan Alan's death defying escape from a burning rope hanging over a cage of fierce lions is also included and completely analysed detail by detail by Alan Alan. Slightly muffled sound quality but the content is worth its weight in gold for anyone...

$19
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MP3

Rupert Howard
Rupert Howard Magic Course: Lesson 23: Sensational Illusions by Rupert Howard

Table of Contents

  1. Content
  2. Enchanted Rickshaw
  3. Walking Through a Window
  4. The Death Penalty
  5. The Living Cremation
  6. Cheating the Hangman
  7. The Flying Huntsman
  8. Vanishing Carload of Girls
  9. The Scrap Book
  10. The Sword Box
  11. The Devil's Cage
  12. Sawing Through a Woman
You can also get the entire 25 lesson course on disc.

1st edition 1931; 22 pages.

★★★★ $4
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Rupert Howard
Rupert Howard Magic Course: Lesson 22: Publicity Feats and Escape Tricks by Rupert Howard

Table of Contents

  1. Content

    Publicity Feats

  2. Introduction
  3. The Blindfold Drive
  4. Under Water Escape
  5. The Living Burial

    Escape Tricks

  6. The Mail Bag Escape
  7. Paper Bag Escape
  8. Straight Jacket Escape
  9. Upside Down Escape
  10. Regulation Handcuff Escape
  11. Packing Case Escape
  12. Unprepared Packing Case Escape

  13. The History of Magic (part 8)

1st edition 1931; 18 pages.

★★★★★ $4
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Rupert Howard
Rupert Howard Magic Course: Lesson 21: Stage Illusions by Rupert Howard

Table of Contents

  1. Content

    Audiences

  2. Children's Entertainments
  3. Church Socials
  4. Smoking Concerts
  5. Hotels

    Stage Presentation

  6. Technique of Stage Magic
  7. Music and Magic
  8. Getting Volunteers on the Stage

    Stage Illusions

  9. Stage Illusions
  10. The Vanishing Ghost
  11. The Bathing Beauty
  12. The Haunted Sentry Box
  13. Walking Away From Your Shadow
  14. The Floating Lady
  15. Performing Animals Regulation Act 1925

1st edition 1931; 23 pages.

★★★★★ $4
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Rupert Howard
Rupert Howard Magic Course: Lesson 20: Oriental Magic by Rupert Howard

Table of Contents

  1. Content
  2. Introduction
  3. The Hindu Needle Mystery
  4. Oriental Productions
  5. The Indian Basket Trick
  6. The Hindu Mango Tree
  7. Flowers by Request
  8. The Wonderful Fertiliser
  9. The Hindu Turban
  10. Sands of the Desert
  11. The Chinese Rings

1st edition 1931; 23 pages.

★★★★★ $4
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Kyle Peron
Chair Suspension Notes by Kyle Peron

Tips on performing and presenting the chair suspension illusion

This ebook is jammed full of information, tips on presentation, safety, routine ideas as well as step by step coverage of the best way to perform this illusion. This is one of the ONLY books in the history of magic devoted solely to helpful information on the performance of this classic illusion.

Find out how to add this illusion to any show and to add value to your client in the process. This illusion has been a classic of magic and can add tremendous value to your show at a fraction of the cost of some of the larger illusions...

★★★★ $10
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James Randi
How to Present a Jail Break and other Miracles by James Randi

This is to certify that on December 4, 1974 at the Sumter County Jail, the Amazing Randi was fastened in two pair of regulation police handcuffs (double-locked) and one pair of special-issue handcuffs with pin-tumbler locks plus a pair of ratchet leg-irons, and then locked into a maximum-security jail cell. Within thirteen minutes, without assistance of any kind, Randi freed himself, walking out of the jail cell minus the handcuffs and leg-irons, all to the popular acclaim of the several people gathered at the jail. This was Randi's 28th jail break.

Randi was a great addition to our Crime...

★★★★ $12
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Timo Dante
Air Dream Illusion by Timo Dante

New and good illusions are hard to find nowadays. In this manuscript magic consultant and illusion designer Timo Dante publishes an illusion from his own collection.

As a magician you always want to look good and appear as such on stage. Air Dream is an appearance-illusion that even fools magicians: Just a thin platform with a frame attached to it. A cloth is held in front of the frame and the magician instantly appears in a mysterious way.

  • Every artist’s dream!
  • No black art, no darkened stage!
You are looking for a new and great appearance? Then Air Dream is the right illusion for...
★★★★ $25
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David Seebach
So You Want To Be An Illusionist by David Seebach

If you are planning to add an illusion to your show this is required reading.

Is this ebook for me? Here is David in his own words:

Have you created a show that clients pay you to present on a regular basis and does that show not include any of the big, spectacular acts that we refer to as illusions? Do you want to learn more about these famous mysteries to decide if adding one or more of them to your act is going to be a good decision?

In the mid 1960's I was a high school student who dutifully carried a #16 Abbott's Magic Co. catalog with my class text books and I studied through...

★★★★★ $20
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B. Das
Levitation Secrets by B. Das

This is not an ebook of illusion blueprints, and it is not intended to be complete. As the title suggests, it is a book of "secrets", illustrating how each levitation is performed. The illustrations and descriptions are sufficient for an experienced builder to translate into finished illusions. This ebook also satisfies the merely curious who would like to know how some of these illusions are accomplished.

Featured are:

  • INDIAN LEVITATION
  • FLOATING GIRL
  • MYSTERY OF LHASA
  • AGA
  • SWORD AERIAL
  • BED OF ARROWS
  • FAN ILLUSION
  • WALKING ON SWORDS
  • FLYING CARPET
  • ONE MAN LEVITATION
  • CHAIR SUSPENSION ...
★★★★ $3
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B. Das
Sawing Illusion Secrets by B. Das

This is not an ebook of illusion blueprints, and it is not intended to be complete. As the title suggests, it is a book of "secrets", illustrating how each sawing is performed. The illustrations and descriptions are sufficient for an experienced builder to translate into finished illusions. This ebook also satisfies the merely curious who would like to know how some of these illusions are accomplished.

Illusions featured:

  • Sawing a woman in halves (Selbit's Method)
  • Horace Goldin's Method
  • Horace Goldin's method (Using one girl)
  • Abott's Method
  • Using circular saw and a plank
  • Vertical Sawing Illusion ...
★★★★ $3
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Will Ayling
The Art of Illusion by Will Ayling

This is a classic work on illusions that focuses on the presentation and staging. The method of the illusion is explained often with illustrations but no detailed building plans with dimensions are included.

The following illusions are explained:

  • Floating and Phantom Princess
  • Sword and Chair Suspension
  • Broomstick and Kellar Levitation
  • Aga Illusion
  • Temple of Swords
  • Head Cremation
  • Crushing a Woman
  • Temple of Benares
  • Broomwitch
  • Golfer's Dream
  • Eye of a Needle
  • Rod Through Mediaeval Style
  • Tiger
  • Totem Pole
  • Rod & Rope Release
  • Guillotine
  • Head Chopper
  • Vivisection of a Clown
  • Wrist...
★★★★★ $25
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Devin Knight
Retro-Gravity by Devin Knight

If you haven't heard of Retro-Gravity, it was a self-levitation that Al Mann and Devin Knight created over 20 years ago. It has been kept under wraps all these years. Whispered about on the underground, and hinted that it would be released someday... That day is NOW.

Retro-Gravity allows you to levitate 2 to 4 inches in the air. It is a special gimmick you attach to your shoe and once done is completely invisible. Any time you wear your shoes, you are ready to levitate. Anywhere, anytime under any conditions! This means you can walk around in a restaurant, party or out door festival and levitate...

★★★★★ $24.95
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JC Sum
Illusionism by JC Sum

From the author of the internationally critically acclaimed Urban Illusions, Illusionary Departures books and the producer of the best selling Behind the Illusions DVD comes a first-of-its-kind ebook dedicated to professional illusions and large-scale stage routines for mentalists and mental magic presentations.

Professional illusionist & illusion designer J C Sum details eight original illusions and stage routines for mentalism shows, complete with full presentations, full-colour illustrations and building plans.

Download the free sampler right now.

The routines offer an alternative...

$40
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Chris Stolz
Effects of Beauty and the Beast by Chris Stolz

This is the first volume in Chris Stolz's Theatre Illusions series. This series is meant to provide theatre productions with solutions to those special effects so often called for in the story or script. These can be illusions, special theatre props, transformations and much more. Each ebook in the series focuses on a different popular show. In this first installment, Chris focuses on the magical props and effects for Beauty and the Beast.

Audiences are always prepared to suspend their disbelief. It's when they don't have to that you have something truly special.

Beauty and the Beast is...

★★★★★ $17
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Paul Romhany
The Briefcase Illusion by Paul Romhany

The Briefcase Illusion has been the opening for Paul Romhany's World Class Act for the past twenty years. An illusion that is designed to set up in less than five minutes, and pack flat in less than two. The possibilities are endless! Use it as an appearance or vanish, as a solo illusion or with an assistant.

No mirrors or black art to worry about. The unique table design will allow you to use it throughout your show to retrieve or put away props, then at the right moment produce your assistant.

This illusion is designed to pack flat and play big, and best of all it is EASY TO BUILD, and...

$25
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