Encyclopedia of Card Tricks
The Encyclopedia of Card Tricks is a staggering collection of card magic effects from some of the greatest magicians. This book explains in detail over 600 card tricks ideal for both the amateur and professional.
Almost every plot is covered as well as every gimmick and trick deck, if that wasn't enough it also covers the most important sleights and card moves:
- Impromptu card tricks,
- Spelling tricks,
- "You Do As I Do" tricks,
- Diachylon (Rough and Smooth) tricks,
- Calculation tricks;
- Key cards,
- Slick cards,
- Double-backed cards,
- Reversed cards,
- Short cards;
- Tricks based on a one-way pack,
- Prearranged pack,
- Svengali pack,
- Mene-Tekel pack,
- Stripper pack,
- Special packs;
- Miscellaneous tricks includng Everywhere and Nowhere, The Case of the Four Kings, Card in the Orange, The Buddhha Whispers, and Inseparable Aces
- Nikola Card System.
- In addition, a chapter on techniques explains the most important sleights-the overhand shuffle, riffle shuffle, false cut, palm, simle pass, double lift, glide and force.
In the first decades of the twentieth century magicians filled the magic journals with articles on card tricks, giving improvements on classic tricks and inventing new ones. If you could put together a collection of these magazines you would almost have a complete course on card tricks, by some of the world's greatest magicians.
But where could you find these journals now that they are collector's items? And even if you could find them, how much would such a collection cost? As it turns out, not very much, because all the best of these tricks are available in this one monumental book, containing nearly every practical card trick produced, invented and improved by magicians over a span of forty years and more.
Based on a volume compiled by Dr. Wilhelm Von Deusen and Glenn G. Gravatt, this collection was thoroughly revised by Jean Hugard and completely rewritten. It is easily the finest single compendium of classic card tricks, and the clear style makes the instructions easy to follow. An indispensable book for the professional or amateur magician, it is a magnificent source for anyone who wants just the right tricks to mystify friends or delight children.