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.

"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.

"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.

Modern Magic has won its place in the history of conjuring as the very first English-language work to explain how to perform magic, rather than just exposing its secrets. This work contains more than 220 tricks and effects, many of which are still used today. All contain principles that, with slight adaption, formed the basis of numerous more modern effects, and which, with a touch of imagination, can be utilized to create new and dramatic effects. The range of tricks covered in this book remains massive: from lessons on basic sleight-of-hand to advanced card tricks, tricks with apparatus and without, hat productions, balls, full linking rings and cups and balls routines, watches, dominoes, dice, and much more, before ending with some of the most advanced mechanical stage effects of the author's day. Along the way, the author provides detailed step-by-step instructions, backed by complete "patter" suggestions which may be used as is, or adapted to taste. This new edition has been completely reset, hand-edited, and contains all original 318 illustrations, digitally remastered to modern standards. Also includes a new index of tricks. Contents Chapter I: Introduction Chapter II: General Principles of Sleight-of-Hand applicable to Card Tricks Chapter III: Card Tricks with Ordinary Cards, and not requiring Sleight-of-Hand Chapter IV: Tricks involving Sleight-of-Hand or the Use of Specially Prepared Cards Chapter V: Card Tricks Requiring Special Apparatus Chapter VI: Principles of Sleight-of-hand more especially applicable to Coin Tricks Chapter VII: Tricks with Coins without Apparatus Chapter VIII: Tricks with Coin requiring Special Apparatus Chapter IX: Tricks with Watches Chapter X: Tricks with Rings Chapter XI: Tricks with Handkerchiefs Chapter XII: Tricks with Dominoes and Dice Chapter XIII: The Cups and Balls Chapter XIV: Ball Tricks Requiring Special Apparatus Chapter XV: Hat Tricks Chapter XVI: Miscellaneous Tricks Chapter XVII: Stage Tricks Chapter XVIII: Concluding Observations Index of Tricks