Spell-Binder in Magazines & Journals

This special little periodical, which only saw six issues, was sent to subscribers of Spell-Binder magazine, but could also be purchased on its own. It only saw a very limited distribution. As is common with Stephen Tucker publications, it features unusual items. Tucker included with most issues some gimmick (special cards, etc.). These gimmicks are not included in this digital reproduction, however you will see photos of the gimmicks, which will allow you to find or make your own.

Issue 1: May/June 1982

• Multum in Parvo
• Alchemy
• Odd Job

Issue 2: July/August 1982

• Multum in Parvo
• Before Assembly ...

On top of the regular Spell-Binder issues, Stephen Tucker published three special issues. This is the third one.

• Jargon
• Playing With Time By Martin Breese
• Mizzing Link By Stephen Tucker
• The Pascal System By Monmoine Pascal
• Kaned By Stephen Tucker
• Or By Justin Higham
• Jackrobats By David Britland
• The Flight Of The Bumble By Stephen Tucker
• X-Ray By Daniel Kalinowski
• Hof-Aced By Phil Goldstein
• Coineto By Stephen Tucker
• The Inner Limits By Stephen Tucker
• Pop Up Again By Reinhard Müller
• Snip By Stephen Tucker
• Out Of Our Mind's By Stephen Tucker And David Britland
• The Hole Idea By Stephen Tucker
• A Load Of ... By Paul Brignall
• Zennerism By...

On top of the regular Spell-Binder issues, Stephen Tucker published three special issues. This is the second one.

• Jargon
• Truthfull (I.E ... Not Often Seen.) Reviews Of The Competition Prizes
• We '3' Rings By Stephen Tucker
• Deck The Halls By Basil Horwitz
• Live And Let Dye By David Britland
• Nöel By Noel Blaize
• Rowman's Double By Jerry Sadowitz
• Marvellous By Terri Rogers
• Jigsaw
• Zig Zag Coin By Stephen Tucker
• Exhibit 'A' By Stephen Tucker
• Birth-Control By Stephen Tucker
• Appelation By Stephen Tucker
• Appellation By Stephen Tucker
• Ringo-Bingo By Stephen Tucker
• Wanderfull By Stephen Tucker
• Special Competition
• Roger Crosthwaite ... For Publication
• P.Y.V.C....

On top of the regular Spell-Binder issues, Stephen Tucker published three special issues. This is the first one.

• Jargon Special Issue!!
• Too Filling By Stephen Tucker
• Beetroot Sandwich
• Eye-Tray By Wayne Dobson
• Tuckups By Stephen Tucker
• Cup Through Cup Move
• Penetrating Pips By Roger Curzon
• The Secret Of Pyramid Power By Abdula
• The Knack By Jerry Sadowitz
• Eject!! By John Brown
• Solidarity By John Brown (Another One!!)
• Small Prophet By David Britland
• Haden – Matrix By Reinhard Müller
• Open All Hours By David Britland
• The Midas Purse
• Stephen Tuckers' Improved Pen-Ultimate +1
• Stephen Tucker Presents His Enveloped
• Stephen Tuckers' Eraser Blazer
• Influence...

This is volume 3 of the reprint of Spell-Binder Magazine. It is a half-letter size softcover with a color cover and black and white print throughout. Volume three includes issues 25-36.

Spell-Binder Magazine was a fascinating publication edited by Stephen Tucker which focused on close-up magic featuring an eclectic list of contributors.

Spell-Binder started in 1981. Reprint in 2004 by Martin Breese.

This is volume 1 of the reprint of Spell-Binder Magazine. Each volume is a half-letter size softcover with a color cover and black and white print throughout. Volume one includes issues 1-12. Spell-Binder Magazine was a fascinating publication edited by Stephen Tucker which focused on close-up magic featuring an eclectic list of contributors.

Spell-Binder started in 1981. Reprint in 2004 by Martin Breese.

CONTENTS:

• FIRST TIME EVER (Stephen Tucker): Five black cards and one red card are shown. The red card is placed on the table but reappears in the packet. This happens several times. In the end, all of the cards are shown to be black.
• CYCLE (Paul Spencer): An off-beat rising card, card to card case effect.
• ACE MBLEY (David Britland): A beautiful ace assembly routine.
• GOLDMINE (Roger Curzon): Three coins are produced from thin air.
• DISCOVER (Bill Worsley): Bill's excellent Biddle trick variation.
• PRI-MAGE (Derek Robbins): A selection and its mate transpose.
• ANATOMY (Stephen Tucker and Paul Brignal): An easy to make gaffed deck...

CONTENTS:

• GETTING YOUR OWN BACK (Paul Brignall): A clever all backs routine with a surprise finish.
• JUMPING JOKERS (Al Smith): A Joker Assembly with a backfire ending.
• INTO THE THIRD DIMENSION (Stephen Tucker): A sponge ball is split into two halves. The halves jump from one hand to another and finally fuse back into one complete ball.
• UNBEATABLE (David Britland): A card is selected, say the Two of Hearts, and lost in the deck. Two Jokers are removed from the deck and placed aside. The deck is spread and the spectator FREELY selects any card, which is then placed between the Jokers. The card turns out to be the...

CONTENTS:

• HAMMAN OUT-SEXED (Alex East): A 'sexy' version of the classic Hamman's 'Two-Card Trick' that uses, of course, only two cards.
• WOW (Tim Gan): The Ace of the same suit of a selected card turns over and then it changes place with the selection.
• WEIRD (Stephen Tucker): A great comedy mentalism effect where you predict how many fingers a spectator selects by revealing....plastic fingers in a box.
• TWISTED NERVE (Al Smith): An extended version of the classic Vernon's 'Twisting The Aces' where a lot of magic happens.
• THE BACK IS GONE (David Robertson): A unique entertaining way of revealing a selected...

CONTENTS:

• FANTACEY (I. Land): A unique Ace-assembly where the Aces disappear from each packet and reappear face up in the middle of the deck.
• GANDWICH (Tim Can): A selection placed between two Black Jacks disappears and reappears between the two red Jacks.
• QUICK SILVER COPPER (Eoin Taylor): A copper-silver transposition that can be used in many other routines.
• FACE-TO-FACE (David Britland): A clever routine that produces the revelation of two selected cards.
• EXCALIBUR (Stephen Tucker): A great routine with new twists using the standard set of color changing knives.
• A 4TH FOR DINNER (David Britland): A different version of the...

Eighty-five tricks and routines from the pages of Spell-Binder Magazine. Everything from card and coin magic to the bizarre and the weird.

Effects explained are:

• Sandwich Box by Stephen Tucker -- Signed selected card appears between 2 previously selected cards within closed card case.
• Mark by Stephen Tucker -- Alternate version of previous effect.
• Demonology by Bob Ostin -- Spectator signs card. Flames cause occult symbol to change to slip of paper with name of signed card. Signed card then revealed to have singed corner & occult symbol on back.
• Esti-Mate-Ion by Joe Dignam -- Spectator looks through deck...

CONTENTS:

• KARATE (Stephen Tucker): A Chinese coin (or any kind of coin) is split into TWO by a karate chop.
• SQUARE DEAL (Basil Horwitz): An ESP card is predicted using some 'data' from the spectator (age, address, shoe size, etc).
• WIPE OUT THE ACES (Roger Curzon): A spectacular way to produce the four Aces (or any four cards, even selected ones).
• MATE (David Britland): Two cards placed in the middle of the deck by a spectator find their mates.
• MY MISTAKE (Stephen Tucker): A playing card is predicted in a most unusual manner.
• ESP (Stephen Tucker): A stunning routine in three phases using two sets of ESP cards. Classic great Tucker thinking.
• COINED (Bill...

CONTENTS:

• CATCHER$ (David Britland): A card is selected and replaced. You place the two black Aces on the top and on the bottom of the deck. You throw the deck and between the two Aces the selection appears.
• RINGO (Stephen Tucker): A ring is placed in a cup. The middle of a piece of rope is lowered into the cup and the ring appears on the rope (only one ring used and it can be borrowed).
• DARK REVELATION (Eoin Taylor): A spectacular way to produce a selected card. A deck is covered with a handkerchief. When the handkerchief is removed the card is face up on top.
• VARIATIONS VARIANT (Roger Curzon): This fantastic routine...

Spell-binder was published for three years (36 issues) by Stephen Tucker and included the best close-up magic of that time. Collaborators included: Stephen himself with over 100 routines, David Britland, Peter Duffie, Wayne Dobson, Max Maven, Joe Digman and many more.

CONTENTS:

• PSEUDO (David Britland): You cut the deck three times finding an Ace each time. One more cut and a four appears. Counting down four cards you find the remaining Ace.
• MAHATMA (Stephen Tucker): A copper coin changes into a silver coin. Many applications are possible.
• REVOLVER (Simon Whitby): A spectacular way to produce Aces or selected cards.
• COUNTERFEIT (Joe Digman):...

Stephen Tucker was the publisher, editor, illustrator and creative genius behind Spell-Binder Magazine. It ran for three years and had 36 issues and 710 pages. (This does not include the three Special Issues.)

You will find some of the finest close-up magic effects: David Britland alone contributed 40 items, there were 6 new effects from Basil Horwitz, 4 from Jerry Sadowitz, 2 from Gazzo, 5 from Gordon Bruce, 3 from Roy Walton, 9 from Phil Goldstein, 12 from Reinhard Müller, 5 from Al Smith 2 from Bobby Bernard, 4 from Harvey Rosenthal, 7 from Ian Land, 12 from Paul Brignall, 7 from Peter Duffie, 6 from Roger Curzon, 6 from Shiv Duggal, 7 from Wayne Dobson and 109 from Stephen Tucker. Stephen has captured the creative...