Magic & Mentalism

Its final solution.

Unlock one of the most astonishing deceptions ever conceived - an illusion so powerful it converted hardened skeptics and baffled investigators for decades. The Spirit Portrait Mystery: Its Final Solution reveals David P. Abbott's painstaking unraveling of the famed spirit-portrait phenomenon, a mystery that once captivated the world of spiritualism and later thundered across the stages of great illusionists. Selbit stunned Europe with it, Howard Thurston featured it prominently in his touring shows, and other masters of the craft presented it as a miracle...

Imagine four helpers who each secretly select and mentally store a symbol from a group of sixteen unique characters. Only they know what they chose. Now imagine a mentalist who determines the symbol each participant selected by merely observing the scrambled sixteen symbols. That's it!

Everything can be examined. No forces of any kind. Symbols are selected from four sides of four cubes or blocks. Cubes are randomly mixed and the order of display selected by a participant.

There are two presentations offered. A parlor version uses 2" blocks or cubes. A close-up version uses four dice....

A new presentation for Jack London's "The Almost Real Prediction".

Predict the outcome, reveal the outcome via telepathy, can be repeated with different outcomes. Works in any language.

This is my version of "The Almost Real Prediction" using historical dates. Using a logical reason for the numbers, your participants will arrive at one of four different numbers that you can either reveal using your mind-reading skills or predict beforehand.

1st edition 2025, PDF 11 pages.

A silly invention intended to test a spectator's memory starts with a simple switch-up and crescendos to a double-talk flurry of nonsense as four colored pom-poms appear impossibly connected by ever-changing strings. The kicker comes when the hollow rod is opened up to reveal no connecting strings at all. The baffling connections return as the performer reminds everyone to give the hapless spectator a round of applause.

Daryl Hurst's Hometown Magic routines are laser-focused on practical entertainment that can be performed in a variety of formal and informal venues without significant restrictions,...

A multi-phase ACAAN routine with a completely unexpected ending.

A very unusual selection-finding sequence: after a freely chosen card is returned to the deck, the performer claims to give the spectator four chances to locate it. The spectator cuts the deck into four piles, but none of the top cards are the selection. Just as it seems the magician has failed, the plot turns - each of the four cards not only indicates the exact position of the selection, but also reveals the mates of the chosen value. See the full routine in the performance video.

1st edition 2025, video 6:29.

Effect: Four spectators shuffle the deck, and each of them freely selects a card. The selected cards are the four different tens: 10 of Clubs, 10 of Hearts, 10 of Spades, and 10 of Diamonds. The magician seemingly never touches the cards.

Description: I wanted to create an effect where four spectators shuffle the cards and have a free choice of any card. Each spectator's card is of the same value. Ex: the 4 Tens: Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades. In the spectator's mind, all the cards are different by using a very deceiving ruse.

My other requirements are that the magician never...

An original matching game the performer can never lose, thanks to his sixth sense.

The performer claims to possess a sixth sense and says that this demonstration will prove its existence.

First, he removes a set of twelve playing cards from an envelope. Six of them display the name of a sense - sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch, and E.S.P. - while the other six depict these senses with images: an eye, a nose, an ear, a mouth, a hand, and a brain.

Then, following the performer's instructions, the spectator shuffles the cards as many times as he likes. Once he is finished, the performer...

A spectator randomly chooses a card and chooses a combination that, with other numbers thrown into play by the spectator, will produce a poker hand of four corresponding to the chosen card.

1st edition 2025, PDF 7 pages photoillustrated.

Four quick and automatic effects with a new stack of cards and a few simple mathematical calculations, which alone can work miracles.

A routine consisting of a multiple series of rapid and incredible "Any Card At Any Number" effects, based entirely on the properties of a mathematical stack derived from the more famous "Si Stebbins" and unknown to most, or at least impossible to detect by the audience.

In addition to learning a simple and fun method for constructing it, starting with a new order, you will find explanations of four different A.C.A.A.N. themed effects, the first two of...

Una routine composta da una serie multipla di rapidi ed incredibili effetti di "Carta al Numero", interamente basata sulle proprietà di uno stack matematico derivato dal più famoso "Si Stebbins" e sconosciuto ai più, o comunque mai rilevabile dal pubblico.

Oltre a poter apprendere facilmente un metodo semplice e divertente per costruirlo, partendo da un mazzo ordinato come nuovo, troverete spiegati ben quattro diversi effetti in tema "Any Card...

A clean and easy matrix. Four coins are positioned at the corners of an imagined square. Two cards are used to cover coins temporarily. Cover two coins, and one is magically moving from under one card to under the other card. You continue this until all four coins have assembled in one corner.

Please note that this is a gimmicked version and will require certain performing conditions that are not present in all situations.

1st edition 2025, video 2:55

The rise and fall of the Supreme Magic Company.

Member of the Inner Magic Circle, Ian Adair remembers when, at the young age of 14, he ran three separate magic dealing firms in his hometown of Kilmarnock. Joining Edwin Hooper, he became a partner in what became the largest magic dealing firm in the world - The Supreme Magic Company.

This is the story of the author's early years in magic and his 36 uncanny years at 'Supreme'. His story reveals how the firm expanded so rapidly and why the company suddenly collapsed, leaving all the staff out of work. It was a matter of 'Now you...

New semi-automatic tricks for the mathematically minded performer.

You will find lots of fun and interesting tricks, including designs for cards you can print out and use to perform some of the little miracles.

• See Them Crawl?
• HybriDice
• Hybrid Age Cards 1
• Hybrid Age Cards 2
• Where?
• Worth Knowing
• Eulav? Tius?
• Stirred, not Shaken
• resistant
• tour, retour
• Bessey Moduls
• Unique Solutions
• Three Wise Men?
• The Rumba Annexation
• ... + ? = 15
• Out of this Square
• Take a Seat!
• septimus
• Unraveled 2
• Perhaps
• pair-fect
• pair-fect+
• Smart Envelopes
• What's for Eats?

1st edition 2025,...

Here's a fabulous collection of Sam's beautifully routined magic with silks, smoke, dice, cards, liquids and more.

Long out of print, this collection includes several miracles, including some that Berland sold separately through mail order.

Contains ten complete, routined effects that include:

• A triple surprise opening wherein a lighted cigarette emits a puff of smoke that yields a silk handkerchief from which a glass of whiskey is produced and, before you can applaud, a bouquet of flowers pops into view.
• A most effective card trick called "Impact" where two mentally selected cards...

The basic premise of this routine is that a white egg seems to appear or disappear in a small black bag, all while two onstage spectators look on and continually check the bag for the presence or absence of the elusive egg. The harmless fun and several surprising turns are reflected in the simple byplay between the performer and the two 'helpless' helpers. It is the shortest of my classic routines but long remembered by audiences of all ages.

Daryl Hurst's Hometown Magic routines are laser-focused on practical entertainment that can be performed in a variety of formal and informal venues...

A near-impromptu routine with surprisingly strong impact. The spectator shuffles, and the magician removes a prediction card and sets it aside. The spectator freely cuts the deck into three piles, shuffles, remembers any card, and gives the deck a random cut. The magician says the spectator will help locate the selection, then has them lift a small packet and perform a faro shuffle with the rest, which naturally re-forms the deck into three packets. Taking the third packet, the magician deals pairs from the top and bottom, and the last card remaining in the hand is the selection. But it's...

Unlock the real methods used by professional spirit mediums in 1905 and 1906, revealed in remarkable detail by one of magic's great thinkers: David P. Abbott. This volume brings together his classic writings on spirit slate-writing and billet tests, exposing the actual systems, psychological subtleties, and secret maneuvers that mediums relied on to produce their "miracles." Though more than a century old, these techniques have lost none of their power - they remain fully practical today and are still capable of baffling even the most observant spectators.

For the modern performer, this...

Effect: The spectator attempts to read the magician's mind. The first attempt, they are close; the second attempt, they are spot on. Then, in phase 3, the magician reads the spectator's mind under impossible settings.

Description:

A marked deck is needed.

This effect creates the illusion of genuine telepathy between the magician and the spectator. If you have a marked deck and are not using it, this is the effect that will motivate you to use it.

Using a marked deck allows for a flawless performance and elevates this effect to a genuine mystery for your spectator. This routine is...

A small packet trick with several color changes. First, you have four blank cards. Then slowly, one by one, they turn all into the 5 of Spades. Then they all get red backs, and finally they all get blue backs.

1st edition 2025, video 2:46

A spectator randomly selects a card and then rolls three dice. By adding the corresponding top and bottom faces, the resulting number will indicate the exact position of the chosen card in the deck.

1st edition 2025, PDF 4 pages, photoillustrated.

Four methods of this classic illusion, suitable for close-up, parlour or stage. Both DIY and sleight of hand to suit your needs and desires. Can be done surrounded. No threads, magnets, or hookups. Simple construction. Add the effect of giving life to an inanimate object to your performances for a real crowd-pleaser. Highly recommended for children.

Cover art: House of Horrors, Coney Island, 1961, Diane Arbus

1st edition 2025, video 1:18.

The miniature version of this arrow illusion is a staple of beginner magic kits, but usually goes unappreciated for its true potential. By using a larger, realistic-looking prop and telling a clever story, this effect of arrows magically changing direction becomes a real gem and crowd-pleaser. It's the perfect little extra of easy entertainment for family and adult performances.

Daryl Hurst's Hometown Magic routines are laser-focused on practical entertainment that can be performed in a variety of formal and informal venues without significant restrictions, giving professional results with...

The magician apparently memorizes a shuffled deck and locates the spectator's made-up card.

A deck of cards is thoroughly shuffled by the spectator and spread face-up. The magician claims he can memorize the order of any deck within seconds thanks to his training and a bit of luck. To demonstrate this, he turns away and instructs the spectator to create a card at random, thereby ensuring complete fairness and eliminating any suspicion of forcing. To do so, the spectator cuts into the deck twice - once to select a suit and once to select a value - and combines them to get a made-up playing...

Adding to a classic of card magic.

"Wow, what a swindle! In the best sense of the word. Just outstanding!" This is just one reviewer sounding off about Two plus Two, an ingenious revision of that popular mystery The Two Card Trick from Bert Allerton. Not overlooking Bro John Hamman stepping forward some years later with a clever overhaul of the same effect, the evolution of this firm favourite continues. Still very eagerly being performed today, it reinforces that old saying - some magic never ages.

Another reviewer comment: "The trick, in essence, is quite simply...

Effect: Three spectators secretly distribute three "Word Number Cards" (One, Two, Three) among themselves. They then select from five "Red Numeral Cards" (10,11,12,13,14) based on the magician's ambiguous instructions. Without asking any questions or touching any of the spectators' cards, the magicians know the specific Word Number Card and Red Numeral Card held by each spectator, plus the sum of their two cards when added together.

Description: If you have never heard of the 5/3 principle, you are going to be amazed. If you have heard of it and think it is a cute puzzle, you were right. ...

A fully impromptu performance: you borrow a deck, let the spectator give it a thorough shuffle, no cull, no crimp, then claim you'll memorize the positions of the four Aces. You riffle down the deck and ultimately cut cleanly to all four Aces. A full performance is shown in the demo video.

Before you purchase this tutorial, here are a few things to help you decide whether it suits you.

1. Effects of this nature require a lot of practice. My handling strips away unnecessary difficulty and simplifies moves that are normally quite demanding, but it still requires solid work. This is definitely...

¡ESTE LIBRO DEL SIGLO XIX ES UN TESORO DE TRUCOS DE MAGIA INCREDIBLES!

El mago Paul Gertner es famoso por su rutina de Cubiletes utilizando bolas de metal. No sé si la idea le surgió por su cuenta... pero esta misma idea, que parece tan moderna, ya estaba escrita más de 100 años antes en este libro de 1874. Me refiero a la obra monumental de Jean Nicolas Ponsin, "Nouvelle Magie Blanche Dévoilée", publicada originalmente en 1854 y traducida al español por Ricardo Palanca y Lita en 1874. Te aseguro que en sus páginas encontraráS muchos otros efectos de magia excelentes para enriquecer...

This book is the British version of Magic Made Easy (200 Photos), except that 159 illustrations have replaced the 201 photos. Also, the text was changed to British spelling, and some other changes have been made to accommodate a British readership, such as changing a trick with a dollar bill to one with a pound note.

I find this illustrated edition better because the illustrations are clearer and easier to understand than photos, particularly for a beginner unfamiliar with most of the movements and methods.

This edition looks like an unauthorized edition of the original because...

An introduction to conjuring.

Carl March was a pseudonym of the award-winning children's book author Sid Fleischman. He was an excellent magician. Performing magic informed his writing both in content and dramatic structure. This beginner's magic book is excellent and profusely illustrated with 201 photos by Willis I. Deits.

Excerpt from the introduction:

... or the art of entertaining.

Being a volume intended to amuse everybody, and enabling all to amuse everybody else. Home amusements; Instructions in Acting Proverbs, Charades, Tableaux, Parlor Games, Forfeits, Burlesques, Riddles, Puzzles, Tricks, Sleight-of-Hand, Card Tricks, Scientific Recreations, Parlor Magic - in fact, a regular Encyclopaedia of social evening entertainment.

This is a later partial version of The Art of Amusing. I have not made a word-for-word comparison, but it appears to be simply a subset of chapters from the earlier book.

1st edition 1878; PDF 105...

The traditional 20th Century Silks effect becomes a fish story for the ages when an adventure-seeking flounder breaks away from his friends and gets caught by a fisherman. A happy ending is in store when the wayward rainbow trout disappears right under the fisherman's nose and magically reappears tied between his friends. A heartwarming tale with a life lesson makes for crowd-pleasing entertainment.

Daryl Hurst's Hometown Magic routines are laser-focused on practical entertainment that can be performed in a variety of formal and informal venues without significant restrictions, giving professional...

Siamese Triplets is my version of the Gadabout Coins routine. It uses four normal coins, does not need a table, and is an "up" effect, meaning that the routine is performed at chest height, where it is visible to large groups. You can do the routine in restaurant walk-around, especially at long tables, at a strolling venue with no tables, and in a parlor setting. The trick has an interesting patter, is angle-friendly, and automatically resets.

Siamese Triplets also includes an easier version of the Gadabout Coins effect, Dead Kennedys, which uses a common gimmick. Dead Kennedys was my go-to...

Sealed message reading and prediction.

"PANACEA is wonderful... it's a very strong piece of work and one that I've been using quite a bit as of recently, thank you again for that!" - Jerome Finley

"Panacea - f***ing awesome! (Quote me!)" - R. Lee

The reader invites the sitter to write a detailed question on a blank index card or business card. A security envelope or coin envelope is initialed by the sitter, and the question is sealed inside the initialed envelope. It is kept by the sitter, never to be touched by the reader again.

The reader then writes a prediction...

Two chosen cards, seemingly impossible to track, are miraculously found by the magician.

From a shuffled deck, two spectators each select a card. While they look at their card, the magician divides the deck into two piles and turns away from the audience.

Each spectator places their card on top of a pile and thinks of a number between 1 and 10. To lose their card, they move that number of cards from the top to the bottom of their pile. Then, they assemble the deck by placing one pile on the other and may cut as much as they like.

Only now does the magician face the audience again. ...

Four blank cards, shown from both sides, suddenly have big holes cut through their centers.

1st edition 2025, video 4:25.