Stanley Collins

(Rotherhithe, London, England: 31st August 1881 - 22nd May 1966)

Inspired around age 20 seeing Prof. Willis do the Conus Aces and immediately learned from Sach's Sleight of Hand. Pro since 1916 when he played St. George's Hall. A non-smoker and non-drinker, he despised his audiences. Retired in 1939.

Invented the Jumping Rubber Band (1911), Collins Count (1912), Collins Four Aces (1912), Penetrating Card (1915), and Nic's Napkins (by 1928).

Wrote Original Magical Creations (1914, 111pp), Deceptive Conceptions in Magic (1920, 112pp), Collins' Card Conceits [1925], A Conjuring Mélange (1947, 256pp), and a chapter in Bobo's Modern Coin Magic (1952). As "S. Wynne Burne" wrote Anthology of Love Poems (1929), a rare forcing book. Other poetry force-books as "S. Martin" and "S. Frank Harris". Also wrote as "Bold Pincher". Articles in Magician Monthly, Magazine of Magic, Sphinx, Linking Ring, Collectors Annual, Pentagram, and Magic Cauldron.

Biographer is Thomas A. Sawyer, Stanley Collins: Society Entertainer & Magic Collector (1984). See Thomas A. Sawyer, Men of Letters: Stanley Collins and Trevor H. Hall (1991, c70pp).