
Book is in good condition. Some discoloration of cover. Stamp (Oliver Kendall, Prince of Wizards), markings and sticker (Vernon E. Lux) on cover. Also has a pink return postage note pasted on the flyleaf, and envelope with library card on the inside back cover.

This is a first edition in excellent condition, with gilded edges.
The best way of learning new things is doing them. Magical Experiments or Science in Play is a fascinating collection of kitchen table top experiments with every day household goods. Many of which have a 'magical' twist to them, in the sense that it is for the unfamiliar observer not quite clear how these tricks are performed, or what the physical mechanisms behind them are. More than 150 experiments are described with gorgeous lithographs. This book was originally written in French and later translated to English. This in...

Including the real deal on "The Trick That Fooled Houdini", and Jon Racherbaumer contributed a lengthy treatise on TILT.
MALLEABLE POKER DEAL - An amazing 3-part routine with a Poker Deal that will dazzle everyone - including magicians. This routine can be performed by almost anyone.
FIRST, a five-handed game of poker is dealt and the dealer displays that he can deal bottoms, seconds, and center deals at will. He deals himself the four Tens.
SECOND, the dealer asks a spectator, at which hand is the shill supposedly sitting, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th hand...the 5th is the dealer's hand. When the spectator...

As magicians we are hired to entertain. The show must go on is a harsh truth that we all accept responsibility for. The fact is performances do not always take place without problems. If you have ever found yourself standing in the lights, with a failed trick you know what I am talking about. The audience knows the magic was a complete flop. There is no one else on stage with you. When that happens, we all promise we will never put ourselves in that situation again.
Your magic may be "performance ready" but is it also "audience ready"? This text talks about conditioning for the unexpected....

"This is perhaps, the greatest 'come on', or 'bally stunt' the world has ever known." - Floyd ThayerThis is a sadly forgotten effect that was a big hit back in vaudeville, but overlooked by today's magicians. It has been used by Thurston, Blackstone Sr., U. F. Grant, Tommy Windsor and other great magicians. This is one of the funniest routines in magic and you don't have to be a comedian or comedy performer to pull it off. It always results in hilarious laughter.
The premise is simple; the performer invites a boy up and shows him a half-dollar. The performer says, "This is the one and only RED HOT COIN. After years...

Inside these notes you will find routines, thoughts, and short essays on the art of magic. These effects range from quick fun effects to full blown formal close-up routines. There is something for every close-up performer in here. Lessons in misdirection are found throughout this ebook. Principles explored with in this magic lecture can be applied to many effects you already perform. The effects are straightforward and hard hitting for real audience. Simple workable routines and ideas.
Magic Effects
TacsMan: One by one, a dime, penny, and quarter penetrate a tic tac box.
Sweet: A truly...

Here is another magical gem from Ken De Courcy. It is packed with mystery, humor and audience participation. This card effect is suitable for close-up, stage, cabaret-floor or where you want to present it. The totally unexpected (yet logical) climax really hits the audience between the eyes and cannot fail to gather applause.
EFFECT: A lady is invited to assist. She chooses one of four envelopes and the remaining three are left in full view. She is then handed a red-backed pack to shuffle while the magician shuffles a blue pack. Then the packs are exchanged and shuffled again if you want. ...

This effect is a variant of the Card at Any Number plot, but with a full routine and a very commercial and entertaining presentation, with gags, a prediction, or divination, with a puzzling final surprise revelation, and more potential. It can be adapted for any events like Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving, Halloween, weddings, carnival, birthdays, conventions, etc.
It needs a one-time preparation that you can keep in your wallet or jacket, and can be used as an opener or a closer, for strolling, close up, parlor or stage.
1st edition 2017, 15 pages.

[This is an edited and abridged version of a manuscript originally released by Harry Blackstone Sr. as The Spirit Handkerchief.
A borrowed white handkerchief takes on a life of its own, it moves and dances around the stage as though it has become a real spirit.
Exactly as performed by the great magician (and his successor son)! All the masterful comedy touches. Learn this electrifying effect as only the Blackstone's can perform it. Every beautiful move. Every innermost thought that has made the Spirit Dancing Handkerchief famous. Learn: The handkerchief in the cabinet. Learn: The handkerchief in the bottle. Learn: The handkerchief in the hat. Detailed directions for every move.
This...

This is a very rare and seldom seen release of U. F. Grant. It was released in 1934 by Nelmar and was only available from him. In this short release Grant explains several methods for creating the effect of an invisible man on stage. The invisible man is heard walking out on stage and wearing a hat, but no visible body; which the performer removes. He is heard to converse with the performer and even rock in a rocking chair. The invisible man goes out into the audience and looks at cards selected by spectators and returns to the stage and whispers them in the performer's ear so the performer...

We all see those emails telling us about "the best trick of 2016".... even though we've received 10 of those emails this year. And it's only July.
Anyway, this effect amazes audiences, and fries the brains of spectators who try to figure it out.
You will learn:
1st edition 2017, length 13 min

From the Foreword:
It has always been my aim to perform close-up magic impromptu, and with unprepared cards. This I do most of the time. Occasionally I find it is better to use the odd special card to enhance a particular routine, and as a commercial performer I have no qualms about this. In my view, the performer's personality should override all else, the props being the tools of his trade. When the blend of personality and props is exactly correct, the performance becomes an entertainment ... this is the aim.
The routines in this book are designed to appeal to those using card magic...

Like ghosts they pass up the sleeve and into the pocket.
From the introduction:
This routine has all the ingredients to delight the discerning performer, the effect is excellent and although it conforms generally to the classical version of "The Cards to Pocket", it has that dash of variation that makes it novel. The method is easy to perform, so easy that one wonders why many more have not thought of obviating the palming just as Patrick Page has done. It's a fine example of using subtle moves in place of sleight of hand; indeed only one simple move is used throughout and yet the effect...

Use lexicon or any 26 alphabet cards to present an astonishing display of mentalism and memory.
Effect: The mentalist thoroughly shuffles a set of 26 letter cards (the complete alphabet). One unidentified card is removed from the deck. Then three members of the audience divide the rest of the pack among themselves, shuffle their hands and call out in turn the letters they are holding.
Now,

Here's an open prediction effect, which requires no gimmicks, no convoluted setup, and very few sleights.
You will learn several applications of the method, including, but not limited to:
1st edition 2017, length 20 min

A card trick that is flashy and plays big, it is suitable for parlor or stage and requires no skill.
Four Queens are each seen in four glass tumblers facing outward. Each Queen is then turned back outward and returned to its glass. Three indifferent cards are placed in each glass with the first three Queens. The fourth Queen is left by herself in the fourth glass.
The performer waves his hands and the magic happens. The cards are removed from the first glass. There are only three cards, the Queen has vanished. This is repeated with the next two glasses. Finally, the card is removed from...

EFFECT: A ten-minute routine or act as a demonstration of how the gambler cheats. Great for close-up work or a club act. In this new act; no sleights are required. Still, you apparently deal bottoms, seconds, four aces, winning hands, etc. For example, anyone shuffles the deck, cuts it and hands it to you; still you can deal yourself 4 aces.
It's a fake, that requires no practice, but they will never know it. Demonstrate your skill without lengthy practice. Appear to be a card expert, instantly. Yes, practically every magician has wished that he could present a good gambling demonstration....

"Not only this routine (and its variations) will badly fool people, but you will also badly fool yourself the 1st time you do it. Welcome to the very clever magic of Michal Kociolek." - Jean-Jacques Sanvert"My seething hatred for Michal's genius can be best explained by the contents within these pages. This trick is just way too clever - you will fool yourself doing it the first time, and actually every time after that as well." - Harapan Ong
"Michal Kociolek specializes in incredibly clever stacked deck effects which always possess methods of labyrinthian beauty. His manuscript,...

Even with a fine show, extraordinary talent and natural ability, you can still fail to be a financial success, simply because you don't know how to book your attraction.
This ebook will show you, as a clever mentalist, where and how you can book your show and work every day of the year. There's plenty of work for the psychic entertainer who wants to work, if he or she makes use of the information and knowledge contained in this ebook. Learn the ins and outs of working in theatres, night clubs, hotels, resorts, fairs and exhibitions. Discover the subtleties of working in radio and TV, including...

Meravigliose note di conferenza di questo grande Artista che ha lasciato a tutti noi una sconfinata eredità. Effetti sempre eccellenti, facili da eseguire e spiegati in modo chiaro. Ecco cosa trovi in queste note. Sono certo che sceglierai alcuni di questi effetti per stupire e divertire il tuo pubblico...io li sceglierei tutti....
Tre-mendo: Quattro carte scelte da altrettanti spettatori e disperse, vengono ritrovate. Un altra carta viene ritrovata con seguente apparizione dei 4 assi su quattro mazzetti ottenuti per ritrovare la scelta. Infine due carte sono sperdute nel mazzo e ritrovate...

Eccola qui! Proprio quella che ti serve! Si tratta di una originale versione comica del classico gioco della corda tagliata e ricomposta, completa con tutte le battute comiche passaggio per passaggio per eseguirla divertendo il tuo pubblico,. L'effetto è che l'esecutore spiega ( manco a dirlo...) al pubblico il gioco della corda tagliata e ricomposta in maniera divertente con un finale inaspettato e comico!!! Un introvabile e agile volumetto del nostro caro Aldo, scritto quando si faceva chiamare ancora Fabian . Un "must" per i collezionisti, un eccellente effetto per chi lavora con un pubblico...

Vol. 13, No. 6, January 2018; 60 pages
Cover: Bill Malone