hillcountrymagic
$20.00
Condition: Good, some writing in first few pages of book.
Norman Hunter’s Successful Magic for Amateurs, edited by F. J. Camm and published in the U.S. by Arco Publishing Company (1952, originally published in the UK as Successful Conjuring in 1951), is a classic, comprehensive 383-page manual aimed at serious amateur magicians and stage builders. Derived from Hunter's popular serial articles in Practical Mechanics magazine, the book takes a practical, workshop-oriented approach to magic. Rather than focusing solely on sleight-of-hand routines, it teaches readers how to design, construct, paint, and operate their own professional magic props and stage equipment—covering everything from black-art tables, production boxes, and servantes to vanishing goblets, die boxes, and Passe Passe bottle sets.
Across its 38 detailed chapters, Hunter covers an expansive range of performance categories, including card and coin mechanics, thimble moves, chemical magic, spirit cabinet effects, levitations, escaping tricks, and large-scale illusions like sawing a person in half and bullet-catching principles. Beyond mechanical construction, the book offers actionable advice on performance presentation, body mechanics, misdirection ("camouflaging loads"), and stage setting. Illustrated with clear line drawings and diagrams, it served as a primary bridge for mid-century performers looking to build a full, prop-heavy parlor or stage show on a practical budget.
