This book is a classic of magic and includes Dai Vernon's linking rings moves and cups and balls routine. It uses high quality B&W photos throughout to show many of the moves. Each routine ends with an outline of the routine, which is great for practicing from. Highly Recommended.CONTENTS IN BRIEF INCLUDEForeword: How the Book Came To Be, and Some Introductory Remarks by Dai VernonIntroduction: About Writing the Book, by Lewis GansonB&W Photo of "The Professor"Chapter 1: The Background to a Legend. Biographical notes on the magical life of Dai VernonChapter 2: The Vernon Touch. Lots of anecdotes about other magicians such as Nate Leipzig, Malini, and others.Chapter 3: A Chinese Classic. Routine for Coins Through the Table.Chapter 4: Penetration of Thought. Chapter 5: Three Ball Transposition. Chapter 6: Application of the Tenkai Palm. Chapter 7: The Linking Rings. Chapter 8: Seven Card Monte. Chapter 10: Expansion of Texture: Copper & Silver placed in hanky.Chapter 11: The Challenge. Chapter 12: Dai Vernon's Double Lift: with a well covered get ready.Chapter 13: The Cups & Balls. Dai Vernon's routine is a must study for effectiveness and routining. Chapter 14: Nate Leipzig's Card Stab.Chapter 15: Tips on Knots.Chapter 16: Six Card Repeat.Chapter 17: Free and Unlimited Coinage of Silver.Chapter 18: Mental Spell.Chapter 19: Pot Pourri. Chapter 20: Ball, Cone, and Handkerchief. Chapter 21: The Last Trick of Dr. Jacob Daley: Four Ace Transposition packet trick.Chapter 22: Paul Rosini's Impromptu Thimble Routine.Chapter 23: Vernon Poker Demonstration (Thanks to Jay Marshall). Chapter 24: The Thumb Tie: a full routine.

A famous magician's journey to find the greatest cardsharp ever evokes the forgotten world of magic where Americans found escape during the Great Depression It has the nostalgic quality of an old-fashioned fable, but Karl Johnson's The Magician and the Cardsharp is a true story that lovingly re-creates the sparkle of a vanished world. Here, set against the backdrop of America struggling through the Depression, is the world of magic, a realm of stars, sleight of hand, and sin where dreams could be realized - or stolen away. Following the Crash of '29, Dai Vernon, known by magicians as "the man who fooled Houdini," is tramping down Midwestern backroads, barely making ends meet. While swapping secrets with a Mexican gambler, he hears of a guy he doesn't quite believe is real - a legendary mystery man who deals perfectly from the center of the deck and who locals call the greatest cardsharp of all time. Determined to find the reclusive genius, Vernon sets out on a journey through America's shady, slick, and sinful side - from mob-run Kansas City through railroad towns that looked sleepy only in the daytime. Does he find the sharp? Well, Karl Johnson did - after years of research into Vernon's colorful quest, research that led him to places he never knew existed. Johnson takes us to the cardsharp's doorstep and shows us how he bestowed on Vernon the greatest secret in magic. The Magician and the Cardsharp is a unique and endlessly entertaining piece of history that reveals the artistry and obsession of a special breed of American showmen.

If you have not read and learned the magic contained in this book you have no business calling yourself a close-up magician. The magic by John Scarne, Dai Vernon, Bert Allerton, S. Leo Horowitz, Emil Jarrow, Francis Carlyle, Dr. Jacob Daley, Tony Slydini, Ross Bertram, Nate Leipzig, and Max Malini helped shape the art of close-up magic as we know it.It has often been said that mastering the magic in this book will make you an accomplished close-up and sleight-of-hand artist. In many ways, it contains all the magic you need to build a professional caliber repertoire. Many have earned a living performing these routines and now you can too.Includes: 41 incredible routines by 11 incredible artists, a historical introduction and a bonus section with private correspondence related to the Stars Of Magic.

DIVThe one essential guidebook to attaining the highest level of card mastery, from false shuffling and card palming to dealing from the bottom and three-card monte, plus 14 dazzling card tricks. /div