Magic is, by nature, a rather secretive field. One of the first people to write in detail about various tricks, methods and devices used to perform magic was Professor Hoffmann. His articles were considered pioneering in the field, particularly among English speakers. He became known as an expert, although he had not much personal practice as a magician. Instead, he studied magic, both tricks and theory. This particular work is taken from parts of Modern Magic, which was a collection of articles he wrote on various aspects of magic that was collected and published in 1876. Professor Hoffmann's real name was Angelo Lewis. He was born in London on July 23, 1839, and died in December of 1919. In addition to writing about magic, he also wrote stories for children, including the book Conjurer Dick, published in 1886.

"Treatise on Modern Magic" is a treatise in book form, detailing the apparatus, methods and tricks used by the magicians and conjurors. It was the first book in the English language to really explain how to perform magical feats. The treatise contains advice on the appearance, the dress and the staging of a magician. It then goes on to describe many tricks with playing cards, coins, watches, rings, handkerchiefs, dominoes, dice, cups, balls and hats, and concludes with a long chapter of miscellaneous tricks, including magic with strings, gloves, eggs, rice and some utility devices. The penultimate chapter describes large stage illusions, and the final chapter contains advice on routining a magic show, as well as more advice on staging.

This early manual of tricks is an absorbing work which will prove of much interest to the enthusiast or historian of magic. Contents Include: The Origin and Entertainment Value of Conjuring; Some Simple Miscellaneous Effects; Easy Card Tricks; Paper Conjuring; Arranging a Small Show; More Advanced Card Tricks and Sleights; Card Farming; Manipulating Coins, Balls, etc.; Thimble and Cigarette Tricks; Silk Handkerchief Tricks; Vanishing and Producing; Misdirecting the Audience; The Spectator's Idea of "Magic"; Using an Assistant; The Stage Show; Some Effective Apparatus; Apparatus You Can Make; Pocket and Close-up Tricks; Entertaining Children; Some Children's Effects; The Little Things that Matter; and Joining a Magical Society. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This text contains a practical treatise on how to perform a range of baffling and entertaining magic tricks, written with the amateur in mind. Complete with clear, concise instructions and helpful illustrations, this text is ideal for the novice magician and may also be of value to those with more experience who are interested in expanding their magical repertoire The chapters of this book include: Introduction, Principles of Sleight of Hand Applicable to Small Objects, Tricks with Coins, Tricks with Handkerchiefs, Tricks with Balls, Hat Tricks, Anti-Spiritualistic Tricks, Miscellaneous Tricks, Paper-Folding, and Concluding Observations. This antique book has been chosen for modern republication due to the timelessness of its contents, and we are proud to republish it here complete with a new introduction on magic tricks.