The definitive guide to the greatest prop-based magic ever created—expanded!

After publishing the first eight great volumes of his mighty Classic Magic series, Dr. Robert J. Albo could have easily concluded that there was little more to say about prop-based conjuring. Time, however, brought never-before-seen items to his attention, and they form much of the focus of this book.

In the first chapter, Dr. Albo enlists no less an authority than Magic Christian to help him explore Austrian magic. A study of Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser is followed by an enlightening look at Austrian prop makers, the Klingl family chief among them. Then comes a host of explanations, all fully illustrated, of props and effects including the Card Star, the Rose Mirror and the Card in the Frame. In chapter two, Dr. Albo and Piet Hart offer thorough explanations of Dutch magic. A number of Okito’s pet effects are detailed, with the Bamberg Egg Bag, the Fall-Apart Bird Vanish and the Okito Card Rise well worth the attention of any modern performer. The lengthy third and final chapter, “Now and Then,” offers a wealth of props and routines, from Coins in the Glass to the Obedient Ball and the Inexhaustible Bottle, that have long-established roots, but still earn gasps and applause from audiences the world over. A full-color section showing a range of props, many produced by or for Okito, rounds out this delightful volume.

319 pages. Fully searchable text with extensive illustrations.

Full contents:

—Table of Contents
—Foreword by Robert J. Albo
—Introduction by Eric C. Lewis
—Chapter One—The Laboratories of Legerdemain in Austria:
Card in the Frame (Hartz Card Frame)
Mutilated Parasol
Flying Watches and Broken Plate
Wonder Clock
Mirror Glass
Vanishing Lamp on Tray
Magical Greenhouse
Ink to Goldfish
Wine and Water
Automatic Card Star
Production Fishbowl with Display Stand
Automatic Handkerchief Pedestals
Automatic Card Spider
Lit-Candle Production
Rice Production Cylinders
Lota Pitcher
Fire and Water
Marvelous Skittle Effect
Guinea Pig to Flowers
Rose Mirror
Card Mirror
Jumbo Card Rise
Watch Target
—Chapter Two—The Magic of Holland:
Wonder Screen Production
Water-Canister Production (Sensational Production)
Square Circle
Okito Blow Book
Okito Card Mystery
Chimerical Foulards
Foulard and Candle
Paddle-Card Prediction
Canary-Production Cage
Silk Beneath the Plate
Okito Tables
Double Penetration
Canary Vanish
Girl-on-the-Ribbon Illusion
Okito Card Rise 104
Redmon-Okito Rabbit Production
Mysterious Buddha
Flower-Production Plate
Novel Dove-Pan Production (The Magic Chafing Dish)
Ribbon Plate Release
Wand-O-Ring Box
Handkerchief in the Bread Roll
Checker Cabinet
Card to Canary (The Magic Coffer)
Cups and Balls
Transposition Extraordinary
Duck-Production Cabinet
Bamberg Egg Bag
Riddle of the Rabbit
The Vanishing Wand
Pearl Vase
Mandarin-in-the-Box Card Production
Enchanted Rice Trick
Shadow-Cabinet Illusion
Die Box
Tea-Chest Mystery
Inexhaustible Box
Fall-Apart Bird Vanish
Okito Coin Ladder
Production Tubes
Cage-and-Canary Transposition
—Chapter Three—Now and Then:
Silk Flight (Mikado)
Vanishing and Reappearing Lamp
Nest of Boxes
Imp Bottle
Novelty Billiard-Ball Stands
Vanishing Bowl of Water
Watch Box
Walking Through a Ribbon
Automatic Spirit Bell
Exchange Drawer Box
Canary in the Lightbulb
Clock Divination
Ring Wand
Temple Top-Hat Finale
Mammoth-Bowl-of-Water Production
Card Plate
Casket for the Appearance of a Bird
Sucker Jumbo-Card Frame
Marvelous Floral Tube
Confetti to Rabbit
Flower-Mat Production
Three Dukes
Die and Box of Flags
Conradi Block Penetration
Crystal-Casket Production
Card-Rise Box
Glass Penetration of a Hat
Bonus Genius
Color-Changing Fan
Transformation Production Vase
Coin Casket
Shaker Coin Vanish
Mysterious Salver
Chinese Wands
Confusion in the Ark
Coins in the Glass (Silver Odyssey)
Vanishing Bird Cage (circular)
Coin in the Silver Nest of Boxes
Card and Watch Frame
Obedient Ball
Japanese Inexhaustible Box
Transformation of Bran to a Bottle of Wine
Ginger-Bottle Transformation
Inexhaustible Bottle
The Talking Skull
The 3D Slate
Art with Shears
Coffee Vase