Sleight of Hand

Imagine being at a dinner party and being invited to perform a trick without any props or preparation. You casually lift a glass of sherry to your lips, half empty, as if to gather your thoughts. Suddenly, you make a swift movement as if to throw the glass at the ceiling, but nothing happens. To everyone's astonishment, the glass has vanished, only to be found in your neighbor's coat, with the wine still intact.

How is this incredible trick performed? Discover the secrets in the legendary magic classic, "Sleight of Hand," regarded by many professional magicians as one of the greatest magic books of all time. This book clearly and thoroughly describes the steps for hundreds of astonishing tricks, including:

• Parlour tricks with coins, everyday objects, cups and balls, handkerchiefs, and many captivating card tricks such as The Sympathetic Aces, The Travelling Cards, and The Gathering.
• Stage magic featuring more complex tricks with coins, handkerchiefs, and cards, as well as tricks involving clocks, mock mesmerism, clairvoyance, and the renowned Cornucopian Hat.
• A diverse collection of tricks including Houdini's Dice Trick, The Ubiquitous Water Glass, The Golden Rain, The Chinese Rings, The Magic Omelette, The Great Dictionary Trick, and more.

Rest assured, these sleight of hand tricks depend primarily on skill rather than gadgets. If you are serious about magic, mastering sleight-of-hand techniques is essential to progress beyond a beginner's level. Both basic and advanced techniques are included in this invaluable resource.

This is a reprint of the 1885 edition in English.