Ganson, Lewis: The Art of Close Up Magic Volume 2
©1966 First Edition
©1972 The Supreme Magic Company
Hardcover, 344 pages
©1996 L&L Publishing (reprint)
Hardcover, 286 pages

Comments: Illustrated by Dennis Patten & Maurice Day. The comments for Volume 1 apply here. Volume 2 is slightly shorter and had less routines that appealed to me, but this will, of course, vary according to taste. It has a long section on sleeving, and a linking ring routine based on Dai Vernon's Symphony of the Rings. Well written close up magic by many contributors. There is no card magic in the bunch except as props. Each effect is well thought out and fully described with lots of practical advice. Each effect has been worked so that it can be performed. Some of the effects are performed using magic props that are available from dealers, most don't need anything special. In a few cases I'm not sure if the props are still available. Clear line drawing are provided where needed.

Contents: (The short descriptions below do not to justice to the magic contained here)

Foreword: Hugh Miller
1 Chapter 1: Destroyed and Restored. Routines where an item is recovered after being thought lost.
1 Cut and Restored Silk (Phoa Yan Tiong): Handkerchief is cut in half with both halves shown quite separate, then visibly joined (note: the handkerchief is really cut)
5 Yarn Trick (Orlando Bagley). Five foot length of yarn is torn into pieces. Hands are shown otherwise empty, and yarn is pulled apart restored. Uses a specially modified spool
8 Ten Shilling Note Trick (Norman Rhodes): Borrowed bill is accidentally burned. Five envelopes are produced and four are selected by the spectator. The remaining envelope is found to contain the original bill.
14 Torn & Restored Cigarette Paper (Howard Gower): to be performed under close scrutiny. No TT.
16 Bennett's Bones (Horrace Bennett): Paper napkin is torn to be restored in a paper cup, but a duplicate napkin is accidentally dropped from the cup. Magician has no choice but to restore both napkins.
19 Note in Cigarette (Roger Crosthwaite): A bill is accidentally burned in a bag. A balloon is blown up and popped with at lighted cigarette, but the bill does not appear. Finally the cigarette is torn open to reveal the bill.

26 Chapter 2 Three Rings for Dai Vernon by Lewis Ganson. This chapter is a routine adapted from Dai Vernon's Symphony of the Rings but using only three rings. The moves are explained well. Uses two singles and the Key. Recommends 10-inch rings. Describes Counting the Rings, The Twisting Move, Linking Two Rings, Spinning the Rings, Unlinking Two Rings, Sounding the Rings, The Crash Linking, The Pull Through, A Different Crash Linking, Linking the Two Single Rings and the Key Ring, Unlinking the Rings

42 Chapter 3: Mainly Mental. Routines using mentalism.
42 Seven Colors of Wisdom (Arnold De Seiver): Seven keys are placed in seven envelopes and only one will open the lock. The performer finds the key.
45 Elizabeth Arden (J. Pickstone): Spectator looks into a mirror, and then writes the first three digit number that comes to mind. The magician takes the mirror, allows the spectator one more look, and writes a number on a slate. The two numbers are the same!
46 The Taste Tells (Charles Cameron): Seven "drink" cards are shown. One is selected and placed in an envelope. The rest of the cards are also placed in envelopes and mixed up. The magician "tastes" each envelope and is able to find the selected one AND can name the drink inside.
49 Mollusca Mental (Tony Shiels): Uses an assistant in the know (but unknown to the audience of course). Gold coin is put under one of six shells. By listening to a Conch Shell, the magician's assistant can determine which shell holds the coin and who put it under.
52 Idento (Douglas Francis): Six disk ID tags are shown. Spectator write his license number on one, and random numbers are written on the others. Behind his back, the magician is able to pull out the real number. Uses a simple but novel concept.
54 Noted Number (Al Spackman): Magician predicts the sum total of four of the numbers taken off four bills, two of which are borrowed. Requires "modifying" some bill serial numbers.
57 Pseudo Psychometry (Tony Griffith): Six objects are placed in envelopes by six members of the audience. Performer is able to return the objects to their rightful owners in mysterious ways.
62 Transversale (J. Bragoli): A triple number sequence is selected from a roulette board. A number is spun or chosen at random and added to the total. The numbers are reduced to single digits, and it matches the prediction. Recommends purchasing a miniature roulette set, although a printed board could be used instead.
65 Licensed Telepathy (J. Bragoli): Ten drink cards are shown. One is selected and the deck cut in half. The selected drink card is removed and placed in the other half. The spectator names all six drinks in his hand, the magician tells him which one was selected.

68 Chapter 4: Novel Necromancy. Routines with a unique flavor.
68 Miniature Rapping Hand (Al Spackman): A doll's hand can rap out answers. Six clever ideas are provided. Makes use of IT to move the hand.
72 Chinese matches (Dai Vernon): A hopping match sticks quickie.
74 Boxology (Frederica): Marked coin ends up in nested boxes after being snatched by a novelty "coin grabber" bank. A different approach to the old coin in nest of boxes effect.
80 Glass Levitation (Douglas Francis): A glass suspends from a butter knife
83 Sawing a Fakir in Half (Hans G. Stumpf): A small doll is sawn in half. Requires a novelty I've never seen (a small "Fakir" that can be cut through without coming apart).
85 Match Sword Box (Hans G. Stumpf): A coin is placed in a matchbox and it just fits. Mini swords are then pushed through the matchbox, penetrating the coin. Utilizes a folder.
86 Flash Business Card (E. Deffenbaugh): A blank card becomes a business card in a flash (flashpaper).
90 Leipzig's Grindstone (C. Smith): Dinner table illusion, a plate seems to spin like a grindstone and a butter knife is sharpened. More of a dinner-time stunt than a magic effect.
92 Torn and Restored Napkin (C. Smith): Another "sucker" torn and restored napkin. A duplicate "falls" out of your pocket but all is restored.

95 Chapter 5 Rink In Close Up. Routines all by J. Van Rinkhuyzen (Rink)
95 Acrobatic Paper Clips: Paper clips and even a ring suspend from each other, then become linked.
103 Coins Apart: Eight coins are shown, four each of two colors. Spectator dumps them into performer's hand. A wand is pushed through twice, and the coins are now separated in each hand. 4 of the coins must be of a magnetic material.
112 Chink A Chink Simplified: Chink-a-Chink using any small lightweight objects and a tiny bit of double sticky tape.
115 Rope Through the Neck: Magician pulls a rope through the spectator's neck. Rope is specially prepared.
119 Grand Guignol: Magician's thumb is cut with a pocket knife, then healed. Sort of a bizarre magic effect with real blood!
124 One Cup Two Balls: Rink's simple and short cup and balls routine using chop cup and two balls, with two large ball climax.
131 Chapter 6: Bennet on Coins. Routines by Horace Bennett.
131 Dissimilar Coins Through Table: Four coins of different denominations penetrate table one at a time, the last penetrating upward. Needs one duplicate coin, and is performed seated with audience preferably at the right.
139 The Change Purse: Spectator empties contents of purse to find two half dollars and one dime. The dime is returned. The two halves are placed in the hand and touched with a wand. They disappear to end up back in the purse. Utilizes two identical "squeeze" purses, four half dollars, a dime, a wand, and a special little extra.
143 Coin Exchange: Five English pennies are placed in an Okito box. Four half dollars are held in the left hand, the Okito box in the right. The coins change places. Utilizes an Okito Box (the one used here can hold 5 Pennies with a little space left over; adjustments may need to made according to the capacity of your Okito box), 5 English Pennies plus one extra, 4 half dollars, and a 5-English Penny riveted stack. Performed seated.
149 In and Out Part I: A half and and English penny are laid in the center of a handkerchief. The spectator names a coin, and the magician pulls the selected coin through the center of the handkerchief.
154 In and Out Part II: The silver coin is placed in the handkerchief which is held by the spectator. The copper coin joins it by penetrating the handkerchief with an audible "click". Requires a duplicate penny.
157 Tea for Okito: Like Ken Brooke's Tea for Two in Volume 1, but using an Okito box instead of a German Box. Coins in the Okito box are covered with a tea cup. After some byplay, they magically appear under another upside down tea cup. Can be performed seated or standing.

162 Chapter 7: The Magic Sleeves of David Berglas. This is an entire chapter devoted to the subject of sleeving. It includes how to, tips, routines, and parts of routines that can be used in other acts.
162 It's Up His Sleeve: a short treatise on sleeving including three general methods: gravity, manual propulsion, and mechanical propulsion.
166 The Berglas Gravity Method for Sleeving a Small Object Invisibly: using a pocket knife as the example
175 Intelligent Use of Sleeving: don't over-use it
176 Master Move for the Homing Ball: shows where one sleeving move can be substituted into the commercial "Homing Ball" routine with Ball and Cone. Does not provide the whole Homing Ball routine.
179 The Torn and Restored Tissue Paper: This approach eliminates need for a TT and no "stacking" of the papers is required.
185 The Cups and Balls: describes a couple of approaches to ball manipulation using sleeving during a cups & balls routine.
187 Production and Vanish of Silk Handkerchief: requires use of a changing tube or handkerchief ball
191 The Vanishing Stick: sleeving a collapsed "vanishing wand" or cane
192 Producing a Pen, Pencil or Cigar
193 The Autograph Hunter's Nightmare: Good routine to be used when asked to sign something. The spectator's pen disappears and reappears in playful ways.
198 Switching One Object for Another: provides some ideas for objects to switch
199 Switching a Long Object: David Berglas' method for the vanish and recovery of a wand
202 The DeManche Switch Used in Conjunction with Sleeving: for effectively switching two similar coins without detection. The DeManche Switch appeared in a booklet by C. Lang Neil After Dinner Sleights and Pocket Tricks.
205 The Vanish of the Stack of Pence: an enhancement idea for the Stack of Pence effect. The routine is not provided, just an idea for the switch
206 Sleeving Coins for "The Coins in Glass": using sleeving for the Coins in Glass routine. Again, the routine is not provided.
206 Production of a Cigar: yet another idea

208 Chapter 8: A Session with Bobby Bernard
209 Bernard Switch: allows one object to be switched for another; first object is in palm position.
211 Mirage: Penny changes to half-crown and back again. A routine using the Bernard Switch.
214 Melted: A penny melts, leaving the melted remains and a unique transparent coin. Make the unique coin with perhaps part of a folder and a clear plastic disk.
217 School for Croupiers: A coins, cards, and dice routine covering the training of a Casino worker.

228 Chapter 9: Two Classics
229 My Routine with the Devano Pack (Lewis Ganson): Ganson's routine for the Devano Rising Card deck. Includes description of the deck, testing the pack, and full details of the routine featuring three card rises.
242 The Egg Bag (Lewis Ganson): Uses a soft felt bag with the pocket about 1/2 way up (describes construction). Includes moves to prove the bag empty: standing on the bag, folding the bag, slapping and twisting the bag, turning the bag inside out, and allowing the spectator to feel inside the bag. Provides a full routine, and a suggestion for producing multiple eggs from the bag.

258 Chapter 10: The Last Chapter
258 Roulette (Jens Korth): A routine using poker chips and a roulette cloth. The chips vanish, penetrate, change places and colors. Uses a few gimmicked chips. Phased routine includes a penetration, a Chink-a-Chink sequence, flying counters, a color change, and a climax.
272 The Magic Ring (Gerald Kosky): Red, white, and blue stones and a ring switch places; finally the stones end up mounted in the ring! In interesting effect using inexpensive costume jewelry.
278 The Story Teller (Will Ayling): A routine with an electric pack. Routine provides a complete "story" to go along with the effect.



Ganson, Lewis: The Art of Close Up Magic Volume 2
©1972 The Supreme Magic Company

Comments: The comments for Volume 1 apply here. Volume 2 is slightly shorter and had less routines that appealed to me, but this will, of course, vary according to taste. It has a long section on sleeving, and a linking ring routine based on Dai Vernon's Symphony of the Rings. Well written close up magic by many contributors. There is no card magic in the bunch except as props. Each effect is well thought out and fully described with lots of practical advice. Each effect has been worked so that it can be performed. Some of the effects are performed using magic props that are available from dealers, most don't need anything special. In a few cases I'm not sure if the props are still available. Clear line drawing are provided where needed.

Contents: (The short descriptions below do not to justice to the magic contained here)

Foreword: Hugh Miller
1 Chapter 1: Destroyed and Restored. Routines where an item is recovered after being thought lost.
1 Cut and Restored Silk (Phoa Yan Tiong): Handkerchief is cut in half with both halves shown quite separate, then visibly joined (note: the handkerchief is really cut)
5 Yarn Trick (Orlando Bagley). Five foot length of yarn is torn into pieces. Hands are shown otherwise empty, and yarn is pulled apart restored. Uses a specially modified spool
8 Ten Shilling Note Trick (Norman Rhodes): Borrowed bill is accidentally burned. Five envelopes are produced and four are selected by the spectator. The remaining envelope is found to contain the original bill.
14 Torn & Restored Cigarette Paper (Howard Gower): to be performed under close scrutiny. No TT.
16 Bennett's Bones (Horrace Bennett): Paper napkin is torn to be restored in a paper cup, but a duplicate napkin is accidentally dropped from the cup. Magician has no choice but to restore both napkins.
19 Note in Cigarette (Roger Crosthwaite): A bill is accidentally burned in a bag. A balloon is blown up and popped with at lighted cigarette, but the bill does not appear. Finally the cigarette is torn open to reveal the bill.

26 Chapter 2 Three Rings for Dai Vernon by Lewis Ganson. This chapter is a routine adapted from Dai Vernon's Symphony of the Rings but using only three rings. The moves are explained well. Uses two singles and the Key. Recommends 10-inch rings. Describes Counting the Rings, The Twisting Move, Linking Two Rings, Spinning the Rings, Unlinking Two Rings, Sounding the Rings, The Crash Linking, The Pull Through, A Different Crash Linking, Linking the Two Single Rings and the Key Ring, Unlinking the Rings

42 Chapter 3: Mainly Mental. Routines using mentalism.
42 Seven Colors of Wisdom (Arnold De Seiver): Seven keys are placed in seven envelopes and only one will open the lock. The performer finds the key.
45 Elizabeth Arden (J. Pickstone): Spectator looks into a mirror, and then writes the first three digit number that comes to mind. The magician takes the mirror, allows the spectator one more look, and writes a number on a slate. The two numbers are the same!
46 The Taste Tells (Charles Cameron): Seven "drink" cards are shown. One is selected and placed in an envelope. The rest of the cards are also placed in envelopes and mixed up. The magician "tastes" each envelope and is able to find the selected one AND can name the drink inside.
49 Mollusca Mental (Tony Shiels): Uses an assistant in the know (but unknown to the audience of course). Gold coin is put under one of six shells. By listening to a Conch Shell, the magician's assistant can determine which shell holds the coin and who put it under.
52 Idento (Douglas Francis): Six disk ID tags are shown. Spectator write his license number on one, and random numbers are written on the others. Behind his back, the magician is able to pull out the real number. Uses a simple but novel concept.
54 Noted Number (Al Spackman): Magician predicts the sum total of four of the numbers taken off four bills, two of which are borrowed. Requires "modifying" some bill serial numbers.
57 Pseudo Psychometry (Tony Griffith): Six objects are placed in envelopes by six members of the audience. Performer is able to return the objects to their rightful owners in mysterious ways.
62 Transversale (J. Bragoli): A triple number sequence is selected from a roulette board. A number is spun or chosen at random and added to the total. The numbers are reduced to single digits, and it matches the prediction. Recommends purchasing a miniature roulette set, although a printed board could be used instead.
65 Licensed Telepathy (J. Bragoli): Ten drink cards are shown. One is selected and the deck cut in half. The selected drink card is removed and placed in the other half. The spectator names all six drinks in his hand, the magician tells him which one was selected.

68 Chapter 4: Novel Necromancy. Routines with a unique flavor.
68 Miniature Rapping Hand (Al Spackman): A doll's hand can rap out answers. Six clever ideas are provided. Makes use of IT to move the hand.
72 Chinese matches (Dai Vernon): A hopping match sticks quickie.
74 Boxology (Frederica): Marked coin ends up in nested boxes after being snatched by a novelty "coin grabber" bank. A different approach to the old coin in nest of boxes effect.
80 Glass Levitation (Douglas Francis): A glass suspends from a butter knife
83 Sawing a Fakir in Half (Hans G. Stumpf): A small doll is sawn in half. Requires a novelty I've never seen (a small "Fakir" that can be cut through without coming apart).
85 Match Sword Box (Hans G. Stumpf): A coin is placed in a matchbox and it just fits. Mini swords are then pushed through the matchbox, penetrating the coin. Utilizes a folder.
86 Flash Business Card (E. Deffenbaugh): A blank card becomes a business card in a flash (flashpaper).
90 Leipzig's Grindstone (C. Smith): Dinner table illusion, a plate seems to spin like a grindstone and a butter knife is sharpened. More of a dinner-time stunt than a magic effect.
92 Torn and Restored Napkin (C. Smith): Another "sucker" torn and restored napkin. A duplicate "falls" out of your pocket but all is restored.

95 Chapter 5 Rink In Close Up. Routines all by J. Van Rinkhuyzen (Rink)
95 Acrobatic Paper Clips: Paper clips and even a ring suspend from each other, then become linked.
103 Coins Apart: Eight coins are shown, four each of two colors. Spectator dumps them into performer's hand. A wand is pushed through twice, and the coins are now separated in each hand. 4 of the coins must be of a magnetic material.
112 Chink A Chink Simplified: Chink-a-Chink using any small lightweight objects and a tiny bit of double sticky tape.
115 Rope Through the Neck: Magician pulls a rope through the spectator's neck. Rope is specially prepared.
119 Grand Guignol: Magician's thumb is cut with a pocket knife, then healed. Sort of a bizarre magic effect with real blood!
124 One Cup Two Balls: Rink's simple and short cup and balls routine using chop cup and two balls, with two large ball climax.


131 Chapter 6: Bennet on Coins. Routines by Horace Bennett.
131 Dissimilar Coins Through Table: Four coins of different denominations penetrate table one at a time, the last penetrating upward. Needs one duplicate coin, and is performed seated with audience preferably at the right.
139 The Change Purse: Spectator empties contents of purse to find two half dollars and one dime. The dime is returned. The two halves are placed in the hand and touched with a wand. They disappear to end up back in the purse. Utilizes two identical "squeeze" purses, four half dollars, a dime, a wand, and a special little extra.
143 Coin Exchange: Five English pennies are placed in an Okito box. Four half dollars are held in the left hand, the Okito box in the right. The coins change places. Utilizes an Okito Box (the one used here can hold 5 Pennies with a little space left over; adjustments may need to made according to the capacity of your Okito box), 5 English Pennies plus one extra, 4 half dollars, and a 5-English Penny riveted stack. Performed seated.
149 In and Out Part I: A half and and English penny are laid in the center of a handkerchief. The spectator names a coin, and the magician pulls the selected coin through the center of the handkerchief.
154 In and Out Part II: The silver coin is placed in the handkerchief which is held by the spectator. The copper coin joins it by penetrating the handkerchief with an audible "click". Requires a duplicate penny.
157 Tea for Okito: Like Ken Brooke's Tea for Two in Volume 1, but using an Okito box instead of a German Box. Coins in the Okito box are covered with a tea cup. After some byplay, they magically appear under another upside down tea cup. Can be performed seated or standing.

162 Chapter 7: The Magic Sleeves of David Berglas. This is an entire chapter devoted to the subject of sleeving. It includes how to, tips, routines, and parts of routines that can be used in other acts.
162 It's Up His Sleeve: a short treatise on sleeving including three general methods: gravity, manual propulsion, and mechanical propulsion.
166 The Berglas Gravity Method for Sleeving a Small Object Invisibly: using a pocket knife as the example
175 Intelligent Use of Sleeving: don't over-use it
176 Master Move for the Homing Ball: shows where one sleeving move can be substituted into the commercial "Homing Ball" routine with Ball and Cone. Does not provide the whole Homing Ball routine.
179 The Torn and Restored Tissue Paper: This approach eliminates need for a TT and no "stacking" of the papers is required.
185 The Cups and Balls: describes a couple of approaches to ball manipulation using sleeving during a cups & balls routine.
187 Production and Vanish of Silk Handkerchief: requires use of a changing tube or handkerchief ball
191 The Vanishing Stick: sleeving a collapsed "vanishing wand" or cane
192 Producing a Pen, Pencil or Cigar
193 The Autograph Hunter's Nightmare: Good routine to be used when asked to sign something. The spectator's pen disappears and reappears in playful ways.
198 Switching One Object for Another: provides some ideas for objects to switch
199 Switching a Long Object: David Berglas' method for the vanish and recovery of a wand
202 The DeManche Switch Used in Conjunction with Sleeving: for effectively switching two similar coins without detection. The DeManche Switch appeared in a booklet by C. Lang Neil After Dinner Sleights and Pocket Tricks.
205 The Vanish of the Stack of Pence: an enhancement idea for the Stack of Pence effect. The routine is not provided, just an idea for the switch
206 Sleeving Coins for "The Coins in Glass": using sleeving for the Coins in Glass routine. Again, the routine is not provided.
206 Production of a Cigar: yet another idea

208 Chapter 8: A Session with Bobby Bernard
209 Bernard Switch: allows one object to be switched for another; first object is in palm position.
211 Mirage: Penny changes to half-crown and back again. A routine using the Bernard Switch.
214 Melted: A penny melts, leaving the melted remains and a unique transparent coin. Make the unique coin with perhaps part of a folder and a clear plastic disk.
217 School for Croupiers: A coins, cards, and dice routine covering the training of a Casino worker.

228 Chapter 9: Two Classics
229 My Routine with the Devano Pack (Lewis Ganson): Ganson's routine for the Devano Rising Card deck. Includes description of the deck, testing the pack, and full details of the routine featuring three card rises.
242 The Egg Bag (Lewis Ganson): Uses a soft felt bag with the pocket about 1/2 way up (describes construction). Includes moves to prove the bag empty: standing on the bag, folding the bag, slapping and twisting the bag, turning the bag inside out, and allowing the spectator to feel inside the bag. Provides a full routine, and a suggestion for producing multiple eggs from the bag.

258 Chapter 10: The Last Chapter
258 Roulette (Jens Korth): A routine using poker chips and a roulette cloth. The chips vanish, penetrate, change places and colors. Uses a few gimmicked chips. Phased routine includes a penetration, a Chink-a-Chink sequence, flying counters, a color change, and a climax.
272 The Magic Ring (Gerald Kosky): Red, white, and blue stones and a ring switch places; finally the stones end up mounted in the ring! In interesting effect using inexpensive costume jewelry.
278 The Story Teller (Will Ayling): A routine with an electric pack. Routine provides a complete "story" to go along with the effect.