The history of magic, tricks, and illusions dates back thousands of years, blending entertainment, mystery, and skillful deception. Ancient records from Egypt and Greece describe early magicians performing sleight-of-hand tricks, such as the famous “cups and balls,” to amaze audiences and display supernatural-like abilities. During the Middle Ages, magic was often associated with witchcraft or the occult, but by the 18th and 19th centuries, it evolved into a respected form of theatrical entertainment. Performers like Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin in France transformed magic into a refined stage art, inspiring later magicians such as Harry Houdini, who became famous for daring escapes and feats of endurance. The 20th century saw the rise of illusionists who used technology, psychology, and stagecraft to create increasingly elaborate performances, both live and on television. Today, magic continues to captivate audiences through close-up tricks, grand illusions, and modern digital effects, combining ancient traditions of misdirection with contemporary innovation.
All of the book titles that are included in this DVD are listed as follows:
Houdini's Paper Magic - The Whole Art of Performing with Paper, Including Paper Tearing, Paper Folding and Puzzles 1922
Miracle Mongers and Their Methods by Harry Houdini 1920
Card Tricks by Ellis Stanyon 1900
New Ideas in Magic, Illusions by WHJ Shaw 1902
Magic - in which are given clear and concise explanations of all the well-known illusions by Ellis Stanyon 1910 (sleight of hand, ball tricks, hat tricks, tricks with coins, after-dinner tricks etc)
Conjuring for Amateurs by Ellis Stanyon 1901
Latter Day Tricks by A. Roterberg 1896
The Art of Magic by T Nelson Downs 1921
Leaves from Conjurers' Scrap Books - Modern magicians and their works by H. Burlingame 1891
Latest Magic, being original Conjuring Tricks by Professor Hoffman 1918
Magic made Easy 1869 *
Lorento's Wizards' Guide - Magic made Easy by Professor Lorento 1878
Conjuring Tricks with Coins, Watches, Rings and Handkerchiefs by Professor Hoffman 1918
Magic no Mystery - conjuring tricks with cards, balls, and dice, magic writing, performing animals, by WH Cremer 1876
Hindu Magic - an expose of the tricks of the yogis and fakirs of India by H Carrington 1913
Some Modern Conjuring - a series of original experiments in the magic art by Donald Holmes 1909
Magic - Stage Illusions and scientific diversions, including trick photography by Albert Hopkins 1897
How to Entertain a Social Party - a collection of tableaux, games, amusing experiments, diversions, card tricks, parlor magic, philosophical recreations, etc. 1875
The Magician's Own Book - The Whole Art of Conjuring by G Arnold 1862 (Over 1000 tricks and 500 woodcuts)
1001 Home Amusements by G Arnold 1858
Book of Riddles and 500 Home Amusements by W Frikell 1863
Hints for happy hours - Amusement for all ages (1855)
Parlor amusements for the Young Folks by G Bartlett 1875
More Magic by Professor Hoffman 1890
Parlour Magic 1838
Herrmann's Wizards' Manual - a practical treatise on coin tricks by A Hermann 1916
Miscellaneous Tricks with Handkerchiefs by G. De Lawrence 1921
Sleights - being a number of incidental effects, tricks, sleights, moves and passes, for purposes ranging from impromptu to platform performances by B Hull 1914
New and Original Magic - comprising a number of novel and entertaining effects by Ed Massey 1922
The Practical Magician and Ventriloquist's Guide 1876
Secrets of the Great Mysteries now revealed for the first time (handcuffs, iron box, iron bottle, iron boiler, coffin, rope chair, mail bag, band box, tramp chair, glass case, paper bag, packing case, straight jacket, a complete guide and reliable authority on all tricks. Full explanation of how the various tricks are performed, with diagrams and illustrations) 1909 by "Oudini"
Magic up to Date - Shaw's magical instructor 1896 by WHJ Shaw
Second sight secrets and mechanical magic by Herman Pinetti 1905
New Era Card Tricks by A Roterberg 1897
Peerless prestidigitation - being a collection of entirely new ideas and effects in the fascinating art of modern magic by H De Caston 1910
The Black Art Fully Exposed and Laid Bare 1875
Stage illusions by Will Goldston 1912
The Burglar (Card Trick) by Arthur Buckley 1921
Practical Conjuring by James Carl 1911
Sealed Mysteries - explaining the latest card mysteries and spirit tricks made public for the First Time by B Hull 1911
Magical Suggestions by Harry Latour 1921
The Triple Climax (Card Trick) by Arthur Buckley 1921
The Art of Amusing by Frank Bellew 1866 (tricks, puzzles)
Original Creation for Magicians Hitherto kept up his Sleeve by Charles Waller 1920
Card-sharpers, their Tricks Exposed - The art of always winning by JE Robert-Houdin 1891
Many Mysteries Unravelled by William Pinchbeck 1805
Mathematical Recreations and Essays by WW Rouse Ball 1920 (Math Tricks)
Mathematical Essays and Recreations by Hermann Schubert 1898
The Magicians Monthly Magazine 1901
Magic Squares and Cubes by WS Andrews 1908
Games of Skill and Conjuring by Charles Henry Bennett 1861
The History of Magic, Volume 1 by Joseph Ennemoser 1854
The History of Magic, Volume 2 by Joseph Ennemoser 1854
Routledge's Every Boy's Annual 1864
A bibliography of card-games.pdf
contents.txt
Entertaining with cards.pdf
Facts and speculations on the origin and history of playing cards.pdf
Practical mind reading.pdf
Revised Edition of Hoyles Games.pdf
The Adventurous life of a versatile artist Houdini.pdf
The devils picture books- A history of playing cards.pdf
The Magicians Show Box.pdf