Magic Without Apparatus by Camille Gaultier 1945 1st ed ESTATE

Description

Condition: Very Good 

First published in France in 1914 as La Prestidigitation sans Appareils and translated into English for the 1945 Fleming Book Company first edition (Fleming Magic Classic Series No. 1), Camille Gaultier’s Magic Without Apparatus is universally recognized as one of the most comprehensive encyclopedic works ever produced on pure, unassisted sleight of hand. Translated by Jean Hugard, edited by Paul Fleming, and illustrated by Frederick Braue and Donna Allen, the 527-page masterwork deliberately ignores mechanical props, trick boxes, and gimmicks. Instead, it focuses exclusively on master-level manual dexterity, detailed mechanical analysis, and elite manipulative technique across four core disciplines: playing cards, coins, billiard balls, and thimbles.  

Content & Structural Breakdown

 Introduction & Historical Critique (58 Pages): Opens with an extensive overview of European magic literature and a rigorous analytical essay on performance technique, naturalness, economy of motion, and psychological deception.  

 Part I: Playing Cards (182 Pages): Covers classical mechanics and advanced variations, detailing dozens of false shuffles, passes, palms, forces, flourishes, and back-and-front palming techniques sourced from masters like Erdnase, Thurston, Leipzig, and Herrmann.  

 Part II: Coins (92 Pages): Focuses on pure coin manipulation, featuring foundational sleights, edge-palms, French drops, back-and-front palms, classic coin flourishes, and complete routines popularized by T. Nelson Downs.

 Part III & IV: Billiard Balls & Thimbles (145 Pages): Outlines essential color changes, shell moves, multiplication routines, vanishes, and multi-finger thimble sleights.