Houdin, Robert: The Secrets Of Conjuring & Magic
©1878 George Routledge and Sons Limited
Hardcover, 380 pages

Original tissue is still intact within the front piece Spine - binding displays no splitting. Interior pages are not marred, volume appears to have been stored rather then handled and read. Outer exposed page edges display darkening. Outer covers displays edge and fold wear.

Small Stamp appears on first imprinted page it states:
James Cramb
Wine & Cigar Merchant
Paisley

ROBERT - HOUDIN'S
THE SECRETS OF CONJURING AND MAGIC
(1868)
Translated By
PROFESSOR HOFFMANN (1877)
INDEX
EDITOR'S PREFACE- 7
AUTHOR'S PREFACE AND DEDICATION- 9
THE HOME OF ROBERT-HOUDIN-11
INTRODUCTION-19
CONJURING AND ITS PROFESSORS-20
THE ART OF CONJURING-22
GENERAL PRINCIPLES-23
THE HAND-25
ESCAMOTAGE, PRESTIDIGITATION-27

CHAPTER I-
COIN MAGIC-29
COIN CONJURING-29
I. The palm proper-29
II. The tourniquet-31
III. The pincette-32
IV. The coulèe-33
V. The italian or "thumb" palm-34
VI. Disappearance by means of the sleeve-34
VII. Disappearence by means of the cravat-35

CHANGES - MODES OF SUBSTITUTION OF ONE COIN FOR ANOTHER-35
I. The change by means of the palm proper-35
II. The change by means of the coulée-36
III. The change by means of a tray-36

MORE GENERAL PRINCIPLES-37
COIN TRICKS-45
I. The melting coin-45
II. The flying coins- 46
III. The shower of money- 50
IV. The multiplication of money-52
V. Magical filtration of five-franc pieces-55
VI. The intelligent coin-57
VII. The two hats-58
VIII. The golden coin in a dinner-roll- 59

CHAPTER II-
CARD MAGIC- 61
INTRODUCTION-61
VARIOUS SLEIGHTS EMPLOYED IN CARD TRICKS-61
SLEIGHTS OF GENERAL USE- 62
I. To make the pass- 62
II. To make a false shuffle- 64
III. Forcing a given card- 66
IV. To change a card- 68
V. To palm a card- 70
VI. To replace a palmed card- 72
VII. To get sight of a card- 72

SPECIAL SLEIGHTS USED IN PARTICULAR CARD TRICKS- 73
I. The card thought of- 73
II. The pass, reversed- 74
III. To slide back a card- 74
IV. The wide or long card- 75
V. The bridge- 75
VI. Marked cards- 76
VII. Cards arranged in a given order- 77
VIII. To change one pack for another- 78

ORNAMENTAL SLEIGHTS- 78
I. To make the pass with one hand- 78
II. To change a card with one hand- 81
III. To ruffle the cards- 82
IV. To throw the cards- 82
V. To spring the cards from hand to hand- 83
VI. The cards simultaneously turned over- 84
VII. To pick up an outspread pack of cards- 85

TRICKS WITH CARDS- 85
I. Clairvoyance by touch- 85
II. Mene, Tekel, Upharsin- 87
III. The cards passing up the sleeve- 88
IV. The cards made larger and smaller- 90
V. The ladies' looking-glass- 92
VI. The sympathetic cards- 95
VII. The electrified cards- 96
VIII. The power of the will- 99
IX. The mesmerised cards-100
X. The metamorphoses-102
XI. A magical transformation-103
XII. The card thought of-104
XIII. Thought anticipated-105
XIV. The thoughts of two persons anticipated-106
XV. The four aces-107
XVI. The card in the pocket-book-110
XVII. Now!-111
XVIII. The flying aces and kings-112
XIX. The protean pack of cards-113

CHAPTER III-
SUNDRY EXPEDIENTS AND TRICKS OF VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS-115
TO PALM CORKS, LUMPS OF SUGAR, AND OTHER OBJECTS OF SMALL SIZE-115
A DIGESTIVE DESSERT—TO EAT CORKS-115
SUNDRY METHODS OF VANISHING ARTICLES USING A TABLE-116
Description of the table-116
To vanish an article in the act of picking it up-117
To vanish an article in the act of throwing it up into the air-117
To vanish an article in the act of throwing-117
To vanish an article by rolling it away-117
Substitution of one article for another by means of second method-117
To vanish a pack of cards-118
To change a pack of cards into a bird-118
To introduce a cannon-ball into a hat-118

THE CHINESE RINGS-119
The "passes" with the rings-120
Pass with two rings-120
Pass with three rings-121
Pass with four rings-121
Pass with twelve rings-122
Inextricable chains-122

THE CRYSTAL BALLS-123
Preliminary preparations for the trick-123
Pass I: The production of the wand-124
Pass II: To cause the appearance of a crystal ball-124
Pass III: To divide a crystal ball into two portions-125
Pass IV: To produce a little ball from a large one-125
Pass V: To pass a little ball into a large one-126
Pass VI: To make one ball pass into the other-126
Pass VII: To stain a crystal ball red-126
Pass VIII: To get the ball out of the bottle again-127

THE CANNON-BALL TRICK-127
The vase for the cannon-ball-129

THE PLUMES AND SHOWER OF SWEETS-130
The plume trick-130
The shower of sweets-131

CHAPTER IV-
THE CUPS AND BALLS-133
INTRODUCTION-133
APPLIANCES AND ACCESSORIES NECESSARY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TRICK-133
GENERAL PRINCIPLES-134
I. To conjure away a small ball-134
II. To produce a small ball-134
III. To secretly introduce a small ball under a cup-135
IV. To pass a small ball between two cups-135
V. To cause the disappearance of a small ball placed between two cups-135
VI. To cause the appearance of a large ball under a cup-135

FEINTS-135
PASSES AND VOCABULARY-136
BURLESQUE INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS-137
WORKING THE CUPS AND BALLS IN THE OLD STYLE-138
CONUS' METHOD-140
BOSCO'S METHOD (Bosco's presentation of the cups and balls)-142
Bosco's first pass-143
Bosco's second pass-143
Bosco's third pass-144

CHAPTER V-
VARIOUS TRICKS-145
THE BIRTH OF FLOWERS; or, Magical Vegetation-145
THE MIRACULOUS FISHERY; or, The bowls of Gold Fish-148
Dr. Lynn's method-150
THE MARVELLOUS EQUILIBRIUM-151
CONCLUSION-153
NOTES-155

First English language edition of this guide to performing magic tricks, by the celebrated French conjuror. Robert - Houdin whose name was the inspiration for the performer who came to be known as Harry Houdini.

Robert - Houdin was a renowned clockmaker and inventor (a small automaton he built was purchased by P.T. Barnum), as well as a magician.

Here he provides a series of lessons and tips for the aspiring conjuror, including his lasting dictum on the appropriate dress for magicians ("Let us leave tinsel and high-crowned hats for the mountebanks"). Preceded by the first French edition of 1868. With numerous in-text figures and illustrations.

A wonderful copy of this scarce and most desirable classic of magic literature.