hillcountrymagic
$150.00
Condition: Very Good
Originally published in 1938 as part of John Northern Hilliard’s massive, seminal text Greater Magic.
Magic Library (5-Volume Set, 1956) by John Northern Hilliard:
Volume 1: Card Magic (Part 1)
The first volume lays the foundation for card manipulation, dividing its focus between classic, un-gaffed sleight of hand and self-working principles. It covers core mechanics—including palms, shuffles, forces, and passes—before introducing a wide range of impromptu routines, false counts, and mathematical miracles. Hilliard details subtle presentation strategies and timing, offering step-by-step breakdowns of routines sourced directly from renowned early-20th-century card technicians.
Volume 2: Parlor & Manipulative Magic
Transitioning away from cards, Volume 2 explores visual, non-card sleight of hand designed for parlor and cabaret settings. The text provides instructional coverage for silk magic (productions, vanishes, and color changes), multiplying billiard ball routines, and cigarette and thimble manipulations popular in mid-century vaudeville. It also incorporates foundational coin magic—including the classic Miser's Dream and multi-coin assemblies—emphasizing natural movement and theatrical misdirection.
Volume 3: Sleights, Flourishes & Specialty Props
Volume 3 focuses on advanced visual manipulations, prop magic, and specialty apparatus. Highlights include card fanning, card productions, advanced billiard ball sleights, and manipulative prop work with items like thimbles and specialty apparatus. This volume bridges the gap between close-up sleights and visual stage routines, detailing how to refine hand positioning, body angles, and prop handling to turn physical skill into elegant performance art.
Volume 4: Stage Props, Coins, Ropes & Classics
Volume 4 focuses on classic stage routines, essential platform apparatus, and general magic props. Key chapters cover expanded coin magic, paper and bill tricks, rope routines (including cut-and-restored variations), and full analyses of iconic stage classics like the Chinese Linking Rings. The text breaks down the precise mechanical handling and choreography required to project intimate sleight-of-hand effects to a larger audience.
Volume 5: Mind Reading, Illusions & Stagecraft
The final volume shifts toward mentalism, grand stage illusions, and overarching performance theory. It provides explanations for mental effects (telepathy, book tests, and prediction routines), followed by construction concepts, staging strategies, and prop setups for larger illusions. Hilliard closes the collection with guidance on program building, audience psychology, and theatrical presentation drawn from his years with Howard Thurston’s show.
