What an excellent book. The quality of the material is outstanding. What makes this book particularly rare is a chapter on juggling and how to fake great juggle skills. I have yet to see another book on magic with such an extensive chapter on juggling. You will also find the obligatory chapter on shadowgraphy, a good write up of black art, and large sections on cards, coins, and tricks with many other props. You will find billiard ball manipulation as well as stage tricks with large apparatus.
1st edition, 1902, Frederick J. Drake & Co, Chicago; 440 pages; PDF 325 pages.
When several of the foremost authors in modern magic collaborate with the owner of one of the most respected magic companies, you just know the result will be a great book. Originally released in a limited edition by the owner of Thayer Magic Studios, the first and only previous edition of this clever collection sold out and has never been reprinted … until now.
Features top-quality effects from Dr. Boris Zola, J. Elder Blackledge, T. Nelson Downs, Edward Bagshawe, M. F. Zens, Harlan Tarbell, Herman L. Weber, T. J. Crawford, and others.
Originally published in a limited edition, priced at more than $33.00 in today's money. Not just jaw-dropping...
Excerpt from the introduction:
It would not be out of place for me to here add what Mr. Louis C. Haley (author of that fine book The Dramatic Art of Magic) pointed out re the effects in Original Mysteries, as the same remarks apply to every effect in this present work, that the whole of the apparatus used for obtaining the effects could be made up at home.
No matter if you're an amateur, semi-pro, or make your living from magic, there's gold in this ebook for performers of every ilk. Seventeen effects in all are included, ranging from card tricks to mental tests, to geek magic (such as you'd find in a carnival sideshow) and even a full-fledged illusion!
In the "Hammered Nails" effect, members of the audience are invited to drive several spikes or large nails into a trio of wooden boards with a sledgehammer. One of the boards is selected, and the performer - with his bare hands - pulls out the spike. This is "geek" magic at its best and an effect...
To tell you the truth, I do not know much about the author, G. C. Hines. But this shouldn't distract us from the contents of this neat little booklet. He describes how you can dye your own handkerchiefs. You will find some routines with handkerchiefs and two methods for the rising card - one for a stage and one for a parlor setting; two floating ball routines and a flag vase routine.
1st edition, 1915, Modern Mysteries Co.; 12 pages
This is the sequel to Slow Sleights and again includes a variety of moves for billiard balls, cards, thimbles, silks and cigarettes.
Excerpt from the Foreword:
This is a book with a guarantee; a guarantee that every item with one exception has been mastered and tested by myself. ... As in my "Studies" series, all effects in this present book are complete in themselves. They are not mere tricks, gadgets, or "moves." Each one has been carefully routined and described in full to bring out the correct methods of presentation, and in all cases, entertainment value has been very carefully considered. With the routines in this book you will entertain as well as mystify.
This is part two in the "Modus Operandi" series. It continues with chapter 5.
Excerpt from the foreword:
The section contributed by Mr. H. C. MOLE, an enthusiastic amateur of Aintree, Liverpool, is a complete programme in itself, being a practical explanation of an illustrated Lecture delivered by Mr. Mole before the Northern Magical Society at Liverpool, in October, 1914. The programme is unique in that it consists of acceptable items not requiring executive skill or manipulative practice.
My own section consists of various useful ideas and suggestions of such a variety calculated to interest every performer whether amateur or professional.
Stretching a handkerchief - taught to Blackstone, Sr. by Milbourne Christopher. A simple but effective book test. A simplified version of Albert Goshman's Cards Through the Newspaper. Card to Pocket. A false cut. Phantom Diminishing Cards.
1st digital edition 2012, 14 pages.
NON-CARD MATERIAL SPANNING 30 YEARS!
MONSTERBOXES are simply the best and most cost-effective way in which to explore Ben Harris' 30 year's worth of contributions to the art. By dividing the vast range of ebooks into genres, you can obtain exactly the type of material you are after. Be it cards, close-up, mentalism or animations, there is a MONSTERBOX just right for you!
You also save at least 30% over purchasing the ebooks separately. This is great value for money.
The ebooks in MONSTERBOX #1 cover a wide range of effects and themes. We have linking finger rings, effects with Tic Tacs,...
30 YEARS WORTH OF LEVITATION IDEAS IN ONE COLLECTION!
The ebooks in MONSTERBOX #2 cover a wide range of levitation/animation techniques and approaches. From Harris' world-famous FLOATING MATCH, a FLOATING DECK, ANIMATED WATER BOTTLE, the controversial EAR PLUG levitation and a complete work on ELASTIC THREAD MAGIC.
MONSTERBOXES are simply the best and most cost-effective way in which to explore Ben Harris' 30 year's worth of contributions to the art. By dividing the vast range of EBOOKS into genres, you can obtain EXACTLY the type of material you are after. Be it CARDS, CLOSE-UP, MENTALISM...
This is volume 2 of the 8-volume Collected Magic Series.
This is the second volume in the famous series of locked books by Will Goldston.
1st edition 1921; original 492 pages; PDF 275 pages.
Table of Contents
Part I. Pocket Tricks
Thirty more excellent effects with plastic cups.
This is the second volume of the Hoffmann trilogy. If you liked Modern Magic you will love More Magic. There is too much to list. Refer to the 'Table of Contents' below for details. This book was rated one of the ten basic books for a working library of conjuring by H. Adrian Smith, historian, collector and owner of the largest private magic library in his time. Other books in this top 10 list are
This is volume two in the classic sleight-of-hand trilogy. From the foreword:
Since many branches of Magic are again represented in this volume, a close study of it will, I sincerely hope, assist the reader in perhaps making some little change, addition or improvement in an existing 'move' or effect in which he may be interested.
I have included in this book my method of working and presenting "The Chinese Rings," mainly for those of my readers who have not up to now performed this effect, and who may desire a reliable and effective method of presentation for this "classic" trick.
Excerpt from the Preamble:
The first volume of this never-to-be-too-much-praised series of pragmatical, pneumatical and windy problems I published for love; the second for fame, the third for a wager, the fourth from habit and this present one which you now hold in your much too shaky hands, for money.
Alas, it is so with all enthusiasm and desire: something fades. But, I promise you, this is not the last you will hear of me. Be frolic then, and delve into and dig out from herein the information you so much desire; but I pray that you may not discover from whom I borrow my preliminary thunder. ...
From the introduction:
For this reason I have endeavoured only to include effects of a practical nature, and ideas in which simplicity is the keynote. Anything in the nature of "conjuring for conjurers" has been rigorously excluded, and wherever an idea is made use of that is not my own, full credit has been given to the originator.
Many famous magicians were Masons, including Harry Houdini, Howard Thurston and John Calvert. This ebook, only the second book ever written on the subject, explains magic effects with a Masonic theme.
Effects:
1st digital edition 2012, 22 pages.
A new book full of practical and highly effective magical routines. I have been a professional magician for 55 years and I have performed all of the routines I describe in this eBook so you can be sure they are 100% practical.
Some of the routines include videos of myself performing before real live audiences so you can see the strong effect these have upon the spectators.
Here's a list of what you'll find in this fantastic ebook:
THE TRAVELLING KNOTS: A streamlined version of the "Sympathetic Knots" effect using six colorful silks. This is very fast, showy, and has a very strong...
1st edition 1919; PDF 36 pages.