Our Magic by Nevil Maskelyne & David Devant

Description

Two things are noteworthy. One, it is a must read book for magic theory interested. Two, it has a 20 page biographical index of card tricks. This includes sleights as well. Anybody doing research on card moves or routines should have this index. It makes searching a lot easier. And this index might point you to interesting books you have not heard about or which are not in your possession. This book was rated one of the ten basic books for a working library of conjuring by H. Adrian Smith, historian, collector and owner of the largest private magic library in his time. Other books in this top 10 list are

The Art of Magic by T. Nelson Downs

The Expert at the Card Table by S.W. Erdnase

Magicians’ Tricks by Henry Hatton and Adrian Plate

Modern Magic by Prof. Hoffmann

More Magic by Prof. Hoffmann

Later Magic by Prof. Hoffmann

The Modern Conjurer by C. Lang Neil

Tarbell Course by Harlan Tarbell

Greater Magic by John Northern Hilliard

1st edition, 1911, E. P. Dutton & Company; 2nd edition, 1946, Fleming; original 487 pages; PDF 265 pages.

PART I: THE ART IN MAGIC by Nevil Maskelyne

I: The Real Secrets of Magic

II: The Three Degrees in Art

III: Unity

IV: Consistency

V: Justification

VI: Surprise and Repetition

VII: Effects of Transition

VIII: Climax

IX: Presentation

X: Rehearsal

XI: Speed in Presentation

XII: Patter

XIII: Stage Manner and Personality

XIV: Mental Attitude

XV: The Importance of Artistic Principles

PART II: THE THEORY OF MAGIC by Nevil Maskelyne

I: Terminology

II: General Analysis

III: Misdirection

IV: Styles of Magic

V: Manipulative Principles

VI: Principles of Mental Magic

VII: Mechanical Principles

VIII: Optical Principles

IX: Acoustic Principles

X: Electrical Principles

XI: Chemical and Molecular Principles

XII: Magical Inventions

PART III: THE PRACTICE OF MAGIC by David Devant

I: With Playing Cards. The Triangle

Bibliographical Index of Card Tricks

II: With Billiard Balls. Multiplication

III: With Figures. Simple Addition

IV: With a Borrowed Watch. The Forgotten Guest

V: With a Borrowed Handkerchief. A Lesson in Magic

VI: With Bells. Homing Bells

VII: With Flags. The National Colours

VIII: With Liquids. The Three Vases

IX: With a Rabbit, a Ball and Two Hats. The Silver Ball

X: With Fish and Letters. The Educated Fish

XI: With Doves and Rats. The Point of View

XII: With a Canary and a Target. “The Phoenix”

word count: 112190 which is equivalent to 448 standard pages of text