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Wyman's Hand-Book of MagicJohn WymanThis work covers a lot of ground, from various parlor tricks, chemical tricks, card tricks, to a section on two person codes, and a section on artifices of cardsharks.
| ★★★★★ $8 to wish list | |
The Study of Trance Muscle ReadingGeorge Miller BeardFrom the preface: The following narratives and analyses of facts relating to the investigation of important and interesting phenomena of the nervous system are published in the belief that they will be new, in whole or in part, to the majority of neurologists and practitioners, both in Europe and America. Some of the facts connected with the detailed history of muscle-reading are here put on permanent record for the first time, and have been obtained partly from memory and partly from public and private documents in my possession. It is interesting and incredible that these phenomena... | $8 to wish list | |
The Art of Modern Conjuring Magic and IllusionsHenri GarenneFrom the introduction: I have written this work not as an exposure of the art of Conjuring and Magic, but simply to act as a guide for amateurs and young beginners; therefore I shall enumerate many tricks and illusions that my young friends can perform at home amongst their numerous friends. In addition to this, I shall also enumerate those tricks and illusions which demand a larger amount of room, and also require specially constructed apparatus; such tricks the amateur would do well not to attempt, as they are only suitable for performance on a stage. I shall give a description of most... | ★★★★★ $8 to wish list | |
Amateur MagicianJ. Dazley TheobaldFrom the preface: The object of this work is to thoroughly explain to the Amateur Magician the various subterfuges which are made use of by Professional Conjurors to mystify their audiences, and to afford such instructions as shall enable any person to give a private performance. That there is plenty of room for a work on the subject of magical secrets and contrivances is evident by the few books that are in circulation, and even some of these are of but slight value, as they give graphic descriptions of what tricks are performed, while but scant and imperfect explanations of how they are... | ★★★★★ $8 to wish list | |
Games and Tricks with CardsJonathan H. GreenYou will find here card tricks, cheating exposes, card games, and gambling stories. A later expanded version of this book was published under the title Gamblers' Tricks With Cards Exposed and Explained.
| $8 to wish list | |
The Game of Draw PokerJohn W. KellerA fairly detailed work on the rules and variations of draw poker. Also includes some advice on how to play the game successfully. This work includes Robert C. Schenck's rules for draw poker.
| $8 to wish list | |
Judge's Library No. 79Judge Publishing Co.Judge's Library was a satirical periodical published in the USA from 1881 to 1947. It was a rival magazine to Puck founded among others by cartoonist James Albert Wales, dime novels publisher Frank Tousey and author George H. Jessop. This issue No. 79 of Judge is all about poker. It provides a wonderful glimpse into how ubiquitous poker was in the US that such a successful periodical would dedicate an entire issue to it. Also noteworthy, particularly for Erdnase scholars, is the fact that pretty much all the funny dialogs in this issue are in various national slang and ebonic. Thus the few lines... | $8 to wish listPDF_facsimile | |
Gambling in its Infancy and ProgressJonathan H. GreenA dissuasive to the young against games of chance.
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The Art of AmusingFrank BellewA collection of graceful arts, merry games, and odd tricks, intended to amuse everybody and enable all to amuse everybody else. Full of suggestions for private theatricals, tableaux, charades, and all sorts of parlor and family amusements. With nearly 150 illustrative pictures. In the days without the Internet, TV, or even radio, people entertained themselves. This book covers all kinds of things one can do from arts and crafts, little plays, simple conjuring tricks, and other activities. 1st edition 1866, 302 pages; PDF 157 pages. | $8 to wish list | |
Prestidigitation or Magic Made EasyunknownA complete handbook of legerdemain, containing all the latest optical, chemical, mechanical, and magical tricks and deceptions, amusing transmutations, astonishing sleights and subtleties, together with all the noted tricks of modern magicians and prestidigitators. If you always wanted to make a mouse come out of a pack of cards, change salt to sugar, or make fire burn under water, this may be just the book for you. The author only identifies himself as 'An Old Conjuror'. Excerpt from the publisher's preface: The following pages are not intended to make the reader either a cheat or... | $8 to wish list | |
History of Magic and MagiciansHardin Jasper BurlingameThis is a reprint of an interesting book from 1895. Mr. Burlingame covers the earliest days of magic, then goes into detail about magic and magicians as they existed in the 19th century. This material is seldom found in magic books of today, but the man who would be a complete magician should know something of the history of the art he follows. Well written and very interesting reading. 1st edition 1895, 1st digital edition 2013, 44 pages. | ★★★★★ $8.95 to wish listPDF & EPUB | |
The Secrets of Conjuring and MagicJean Eugene Robert-Houdin & Professor HoffmannThe original title is Les Secrets de la Prestidigitation et de la Magie. It was the collection of lessons and information Robert-Houdin intended to teach his sons to make them expert magicians. However, his sons did have other interests, mechanics and military, which led him to publish his recordings as book. Prof. Hoffmann has translated this masterpiece into English.
| ★★★★★ $9 to wish list | |
Koschitz's Manual of Useful InformationKoschitzConcerning marks and stamps, portable and fixed devices, manipulation of cards and other matters of interest to lovers of draw. This is one of the better early books on card advantage play. We can be almost certain that Erdnase read this book.
| ★★★★★ $9 to wish list | |
Beyond the MississippiAlbert Deane RichardsonLife and adventure on the prairies, mountains, and Pacific coast. Beyond the Mississippi is a travel log of Albert Richardson from a few years before and after the American Civil War. As the title suggests, he traveled west of the Mississippi through states and territories such as Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, Iowa, Oregon, California, Nevada, etc. He describes nature, people, politics, and commerce. It includes exciting adventures as well as fairly dry facts such as how many bushels of grain a particular area produces. Overall it is quite readable and the... | $9 to wish list | |
HellerismHarry Hermon | ★★★★★ $10 to wish list | |
Roterberg Catalog 1August RoterbergThis is the first catalog Roterberg issued, titled: "Descriptive Catalogue of the Latest European Novelties in Magic, Second Sight, Anti-Spiritualism". Noteworthy here is that Roterberg states that he corresponds not only in English but also German, French and Volapük - a universal language created by the German catholic priest Johann Martin Schleyer in 1880. 1st edition ca. 1894, 20 pages. | $10 to wish listPDF_facsimile | |
Roterberg Catalog 5August RoterbergThe title page reads: "Superior, New and Standard Conjuring Tricks, Spiritualistic Manifestations and Books on Conjuring." Particularly noteworthy are the pages in the back where he reprints quotes and praises from customers who have read his books including John Northern Hilliard and Harry Kellar. 1st edition ca. 1898, 76 pages. | $10 to wish listPDF_facsimile | |
W. H. J. Shaw Catalog 1893William Henry James Shaw | $10 to wish listPDF_facsimile | |
Tricks and Diversions with CardsProfessor MillerInteresting here are not only the many card tricks described but also a section on crooked gambling at the very end. [Note that pages 11-14 are missing in our original from which this digital edition has been prepared.]
| ★★★★★ $10 to wish list | |
The Book of Modern ConjuringR. Kunard
1st edition... | ★★★★★ $10 to wish list | |
Magicians Own BookWiljalba FrikellThe authorship of this book is not entirely clear, but Frikell is a likely author of at least good parts of the book. However, most likely it is a compilation of material from different sources with potentially a number of editors and compilers. Some of the other names associated with this book are H.L. Williams, George Arnold, Frank Cahill, and John Wyman, Jr. The book covers not only magic tricks of various kinds, but also a lot of what we would call today "kitchen table top experiments" in fields ranging from mechanical and chemical to optical, math and others. It also features a section... | ★★★★★ $10 to wish list | |
Parlor Tricks with CardsWiljalba FrikellThe subtitle reads: Containing explanations of all the tricks and deceptions with playing cards. Tricks with cards performed by skillful manipulation and sleight of hand; by the aid of memory, mental calculation, and the peculiar arrangement of the cards; by the aid of confederacy and sheer audacity and tricks performed by the aid of ingenious apparatus and prepared cards. The whole illustrated, and made plain and easy. The first section of this book is identical with the card section in The Secret Out.
| $10 to wish list | |
The History of Playing CardsEd. S. TaylorIncludes chapters on conjuring, fortune-telling and card-sharping.
| ★★★★★ $10 to wish list | |
Magic and its MysteriesJ. Dazley TheobaldFrom the preface: In the following pages it has been my aim to give such plain and practical instructions, as shall enable the amateur conjurer to perform with confidence and success. In the limits of a book of this size, it is impossible to describe more than one-tenth of the various tricks in modern magic in vogue at the present day, and I have therefore carefully excluded the larger professional apparatus, such as are used only on the public stage, believing that what is most needed is a sound treatise on drawing-room magic, and I trust in the following pages the reader will find such... | ★★★★★ $10 to wish list |