"The World's Best Book of Magic" by Walter B. Gibson. Phila: Penn Publishing Co., 1927. First edition
Walter Gibson was an accomplished magician as well as an author. Under the Street & Smith house name of Maxwell Grant, he created and wrote 282 of the 325 novels about the most famous crimefighter to battle evil-doers in the pages of pulp magazines -- "The Shadow."
"The World's Best Book of Magic" opens with a brief account of the history of magic, and then explains the underlying principles of deception, giving a full description of the art of misdirection upon which all magical tricks and illusions are founded.
The first section contains more than a hundred simple tricks that could be performed by anyone with little practice. Then follow explanations of sleight of hand, small tricks to be presented with the aid of special apparatus, and the secrets of platform magic. The final section explains lesser known tricks. Walter Gibson based his book upon his knowledge and experience as an instructor in sleight of hand and as a professional magician.
"The World's Best Book of Magic" by Walter B. Gibson. Phila: Penn Publishing Co., 1927. First edition
Walter Gibson was an accomplished magician as well as an author. Under the Street & Smith house name of Maxwell Grant, he created and wrote 282 of the 325 novels about the most famous crimefighter to battle evil-doers in the pages of pulp magazines -- "The Shadow."
"The World's Best Book of Magic" opens with a brief account of the history of magic, and then explains the underlying principles of deception, giving a full description of the art of misdirection upon which all magical tricks and illusions are founded.
The first section contains more than a hundred simple tricks that could be performed by anyone with little practice. Then follow explanations of sleight of hand, small tricks to be presented with the aid of special apparatus, and the secrets of platform magic. The final section explains lesser known tricks. Walter Gibson based his book upon his knowledge and experience as an instructor in sleight of hand and as a professional magician.