Magic is an age-old art form, which has the power to amaze and amuse both children and adults alike. This fully illustrated book includes over 120 amazing magic tricks to be used on a variety of different occasions. It offers simple tricks as well as some designed for the more advanced practitioner. History of Mystery: the book opens with an introduction to the most important events and names in magic's rich history, including comedy and close-up magicians, illusionists and television magicians. Card Magic: the scope for performing tricks with cards is enormous. This chapter explains how to grip, shuffle and control cards, how to force cards, do self-working tricks and peform advanced card flourishes. Dinner Table Magic: items found on the dinner table can be used to entertain and amaze your guests. The tricks in this chapter focus on glasses, napkins, cutlery, straws, cups and sugar cubes. Match Magic: the shape and size of matches make them ideal for creating optical illusions and simple magic tricks. With a box of matches in your pocket, you can perform an entire magic show. String, Cord and Rope Magic: the cut and restored rope effect is a staple of the magician's repertoire. This chapter shows how to do this and other illusions such as making a knot disappear at will. Mind Magic: your audiences will believe that you have psychic powers with the routines in this chapter. There are many ways of creating the impression of mind-reading and thought transference. Silk, Thimble and Paper Magic: tricks using handkerchiefs and small objects have always been popular. This chapter shows how to do a variety of sleights of hand with these everyday props. Money Magic: everyone enjoys watching money appear out of thin air! Once you have learnt basic techniques such as palming and vanishing, there are many tricks to perform with both coins and banknotes. This book reveals the secrets of a wide range of tricks, and explains how to achieve a polished performance, with tips and advice on planning patter, rehearsing, and creating your own performance style. Step-by-step instructions with over 1000 photographs make it an indispensable guide for anyone seeking to master this fascinating art.

2015 Reprint of 1944 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition. Not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This remains one of the most definitive works on card technique, providing step-by-step instructions that will teach you the correct methods for the basic manipulations and for more advanced flourishes. Offering the most foolproof methods available, Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue explain such basic manipulation as the palm, the shuffle, the lift, the side slip, the pass, the glimpse, the jog and the reverse. They detail various false deals, crimps and changes and the more advanced execution needed for forces, fans and the use of the prearranged deck.

Kids love magic. They love to see it, and they love to do it. Enter Joshua Jay, who started doing magic when he was 7 and was named champion at the World Magic Seminar (the Olympics of magic) by the time he was 16. His Big Magic for Little Hands is packed with 25 astonishing illusions for kids ages 7 and up. In other words, it’s sleight of hand for the small of hand. These are tricks that require little prep time and dexterity yet are guaranteed to deliver a big payoff. The large format, oversized ext, and black-and-white vintage-style illustrations make Big Magic particularly easy to follow and kid-friendly. Here’s how to levitate your sibling several feet off a bed. Escape Houdini-like from tightly bound ropes. There are also impromptu effects that can be performed anytime, anywhere, like Spook-Key, in which an antique key mysteriously rotates in your hand. Each easy-to-perform feat is clearly illustrated with step-by-step drawings and accompanied by insider tips. Joshua Jay is a master who guides his apprentices through every aspect of the magician’s art, from the first step—taking the Magician’s Oath—to how to minimize nervousness (Rule #1: Rehearse. A lot).

Pull some magic out of your hat with these guides to the best tricks around. Guaranteed to amaze and astound your audience. Featuring step-by-step instructions, top tip boxes, clear bright illustrations, and including profiles of famous magicians

Learn to do astounding tricks with cards, coins, rope; also, comedy magic, mental dexterity, more. Few props and little sleight of hand needed. "The best book yet on easy-to-do magic." — Martin Gardner. 247 illustrations.

Highly instructive book by a noted authority on the subject analyzes every phase of conjuring, from sleights, devices, misdirection, and controlling audience attention to incorporating patter and the effective use of assistants.