LITTLE GIANT® ENCYCLOPEDIA ♦ TRICKS ♦ LITTLE GIANT® ENCYCLOPEDIA ♦ TRICKS ♦ THE DIAGRAM GROUP T STERLING New York / London www.sterlingpublishing.com Many thanks for Isabella Percy and Toby Gee for testing the tricks. STERLING and the distinctive Sterling logo are registered trademarks of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Tire little giant encyclopedia of card & magic tricks / the Diagram Group, p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 0-8069-9347-2 1. Card tricks-Encyclopedias. 2. Conjuring—Encyclopedias. I. Diagram Group. GV1549.L48 1996 795.4’38’03-dc20 96-25432 CIP 10 9876543 21 Published 2008 by Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 387 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y. 10016 © 1996 by Diagram Visual Information Ltd Distributed in Canada by Sterling Publishing c/o Canadian Manda Group, 165 Dufferin Street Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6K 3H6 Distributed in the United Kingdom by GMC Distribution Services Castle Place, 166 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England BN7 1XU Distributed in Australia by Capricorn Link (Australia) Pty. Ltd. P.O. Box 704, Windsor, NSW 2756, Australia Printed in China All rights reserved Sterling ISBN 978-1-4027-6005-1 For information about custom editions, special sales, premium and corporate purchases, please contact Sterling Special Sales Department at 800-805-5489 or [email protected] 5 Foreword Performing tricks has been a popular pastime among young and old for thousands of years. Historically, magicians have commanded great power and influence because of the magical effects they have created. Today, the most popular magic performers are TV stars who have achieved international fame. This illustrated encyclopedia brings together over 150 tricks. It is divided into two sections. Section 1 contains over 80 card tricks and includes essential information on card handling and performing. Many tricks can be performed with just an ordinary pack of cards - and you can take a pack of cards anywhere. Section 2 gives a brief history of magic, types of magic performance, what you will need and advice on performing. Over 60 tricks are included; they require the minimum of equipment - in many cases, just coins, handkerchiefs, and so on, without the need for specialist and expensive apparatus. Each trick is described with step-by-step instructions, complemented with clear explanatory diagrams. The tricks are arranged by type and in roughly ascending order of difficulty. Information on finding a suitable trick - easy, moderately easy, or those requiring skill and practice - is given at the end of the book, together with a glossary of important terms and an index. 6 Contents SECTION 1 CARD TRICKS Essential information 3. Tricks using arranged 10 Card handling stacks of cards 33 Preparation 92 Si Stebbins 35 Performing 95 The joker knows 97 Counting the cards 1. Tricks using key cards 101 Multiple 41 The magic touch identification 44 Get together 103 The three piles 46 Turn-around card 106 Listen to the queen 50 In between 108 A dream come true 53 The two detectives 110 A special 56 Performer’s mistake arrangement 59 Impossible location 113 The card in the 61 The dented card middle 114 Calling the cards 2. Mathematical card 116 Aces and kings tricks 118 Even better than 64 Rows and columns kings 68 Three columns 72 Ten in a line 4. Tricks using sleight of 75 Time will tell hand 78 The ninth card 120 Abracadabra 80 The piano trick 122 Cards change places 83 Your deal 124 Countdown 85 Duck one, drop two 126 Two out of 52 87 A process of 128 The cut force elimination 130 One out of five 90 A magic sequence 132 Turn-about CONTENTS 7 135 Pick a number 193 The magician’s 137 Three cards across message 140 Midnight feast 197 The vanishing card 142 The fabulous four 199 Lucky 18 aces 201 Rip-off 203 Something up your 5. Tricks using two packs sleeve of cards 205 A stab in the dark 146 Do as I do 208 Stab a twin 148 Miracle prediction 211 Card through the 150 The red card table 152 A world record 216 The great egg 154 Pocket prediction mystery 218 On reflection 6. Tricks using special 222 The long-distance cards trick 156 One-way 158 The four specials 8. Card novelties 160 The marked one-way 226 Spelling the pack pack 228 The card calendar 162 Four aces 230 Bomb aiming 164 Find the card 232 A card puzzle 166 The Svengali deck 234 Another card puzzle 169 The changing card 236 The magician always 172 Half cut wins 177 Double prediction 238 Four-card index 241 You bet 7. Tricks using props 243 Stepping through a 179 Spot the thumbprint card 182 The clock trick 246 Six-card lift 185 The one in the middle 248 Card through the hole 187 Blindfolded location 250 Finale 190 Follow me 8 CONTENTS SECTION 2 MAGIC TRICKS Introduction 2. Silk and handkerchief 254 A short history of magic magic 320 Producing a 260 Types of magic handkerchief performance 322 The bow and arrow 262 What you will need hankie 269 Preparation 324 The invisible thread 271 Performing 327 The broken match 330 Handkerchief cleaver 1. Coin magic 332 Handkerchief in a 277 The traveling coin glass 279 Two heads are better 334 It ties itself in a knot than one 336 It was a knot but now 282 Nine tails it’s not 285 Extra money 338 Pen through 288 The hankie vanish handkerchief 290 Behind the ear 341 Blow that knot away 292 Coin in the bun 344 The inner tube 294 The magic wand 297 Coin fold 3. String and rope magic 300 The dissolving coin 349 Instant knot 304 Silver and copper 351 One-handed instant 308 Coin in the wool knot 312 Top pocket vanish 353 Vanishing knots 314 Coin through the 355 Magic scissors handkerchief 358 Impossible release 361 Ring release 364 Chinese robbery 367 Cut and restored rope 370 A mug’s game 375 Ropes change length