{"product_id":"expert-card-technique-by-jean-hugard-fred-braue-1st-edition-1944","title":"Expert Card Technique by Jean Hugard \u0026 Fred Braue 1st edition 1944","description":"\u003cp\u003eCondition: Good\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExpert Card Technique: Close-Up Table Magic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e by Jean Hugard and Fred Braue (first published in 1940) is widely considered one of the definitive bibles of advanced card magic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile Hugard and Braue’s earlier work, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Royal Road to Card Magic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, was designed as an entry point for beginners, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExpert Card Technique\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was written specifically for intermediate and advanced sleight-of-hand artists, codifying the sophisticated techniques used by the top professional card handlers of the early-to-mid 20th century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBook Structure \u0026amp; Core Breakdown\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe first edition is broken down into structured parts that move systematically from technical sleights to psychological principles and full performance routines:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePart 1: The Secret Cuts (Sleights \u0026amp; Mechanics)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFocuses on precise physical moves, foundational mechanics, and advanced sleights.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ePulls \u0026amp; Palming: Advanced methods for secretly securing, holding, and replacing cards from various positions in the deck without detection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe Secret Cut (The Pass): Detailed instructions on classic passes, invisible turns, and cover moves used to manipulate cards under the audience’s nose.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFalse Shuffles \u0026amp; Cuts: In-hand and table methods (riffle, overhand, and push-through shuffles) designed to retain full or partial deck order while appearing to thoroughly mix the cards.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe Double Lift \u0026amp; Turnovers: Fine points on handling multiple cards as one seamlessly.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFlourishes: Elegant cuts, fans, and displays designed to show off dexterity and control.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePart 2: Advanced Techniques \u0026amp; Moves\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDives into specialized technical tools used by master card handlers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eGlimpses \u0026amp; Sightings: Techniques to secretly catch a glance at a selected or top\/bottom card.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eControls \u0026amp; Changes: Methods like the Top Change, Bottom Change, and various card shifts to transform or substitute cards invisibly.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eForces: Classic, riffle, slip, and psychological techniques to ensure a spectator chooses a specific predetermined card.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eReverses \u0026amp; False Counts: Secretly flipping cards over within the deck or counting fewer\/more cards than are actually present (such as Elmsley-style precursor counts).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePart 3: Card Tricks \u0026amp; Full Routines\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eApplies the technical sleights into complete, performance-ready effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eClassic Effects: Includes routines involving \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCards Across\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Four Aces\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCard Through Handkerchief\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRising Cards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eMental Magic with Cards: Predictions, mind-reading presentations, and thought-of card locations that rely heavily on subtle psychology rather than pure sleight of hand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ePlatform \u0026amp; Stage Card Magic: Adapting close-up card technique for larger audiences and theatrical presentation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePart 4: The Psychology \u0026amp; Art of Card Magic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFocuses on the theory, performance philosophy, and audience management.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eMisdirection: How to direct off-beat attention, control gaze, and use natural movement to mask secret actions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ePatter \u0026amp; Presentation: Crafting believable narrative lines, timing movements to speech, and avoiding \"puzzle-like\" performances.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eHandling Spectators: Managing difficult audience members, volunteer positioning, and recovering smoothly from mistakes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Context \u0026amp; Significance of the 1st Edition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eA Benchmark Manual: Alongside S.W. Erdnase's \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Expert at the Card Table\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, this work set a new standard for text clarity, detailed illustrations (drawn by Alexander Rossi), and comprehensive coverage of modern table magic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe \"Dai Vernon \u0026amp; Charlie Miller\" Controversy: A famous historical note regarding the 1st edition involves the uncredited contributions of magic legends Dai Vernon and Charlie Miller. Crucial material—most notably the sections on the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePass\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide Steal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—was gathered from them, leading to tension when the book was first released without explicit attribution (later editions added supplemental chapters acknowledging their contributions).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eEnduring Legacy: It remains a foundational text taught to serious students of card magic to this day, bridging classic 19th-century methods with modern 20th-century sleight of hand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"hillcountrymagic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43864143953979,"sku":null,"price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0675\/7751\/1995\/files\/A14338EF-C6B9-4D0F-A34E-6455011F7575.jpg?v=1785032605","url":"https:\/\/hillcountrymagic.com\/products\/expert-card-technique-by-jean-hugard-fred-braue-1st-edition-1944","provider":"hillcountrymagic","version":"1.0","type":"link"}