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I'd like to find a magic book that I read when I was 14 (21 years ago ) but I have no idea what it was called. I borrowed it from a British military lending library when I was living in what was then West Germany, so there is no chance that I can go back and find it.

The only clues I can give you is that I remember (and still use) 2 card tricks from it, both of which use the 'glide'. I'm hoping that in describing the effects that somebody will know the name of the book. The effects (as seen by the spectator):

1. Spectator selects a card from the spread, looks at it and puts it back into the deck. The magician then deals down 8 of the bottom cards. He shows the spec the bottom card and puts it face down in front of him. He then discards the next bottom card onto the remaining deck. He shows the next one, then discards the one after that and continues in this manner until he has 4 cards remaining (none of which are the specs). The magician then does the same thing, showing the bottom card, discarding the next, showing the bottom card and discarding the last. Down to 2 cards (again neither of which are the specs). Magician asks the spec to select a card which he then discards. This leaves one card which, when turned over, has 'magically' turned into the spectators card.

2. The magician, showing what is obviously the 3 of spades on the bottom of the deck and whilst trying poorly to hide to top and bottom pips says "I will now turn the ace of spades into the 3 of spades" and in turning the deck face down pulls out the bottom card and lays it on the table. The spectators ALWAYS argue that it was already the 3 of spades and will eventually turn the card face up only to see that it is the ace of spades.

I really love performing both of these tricks. I think I'm probably being nostalgic in wanting to find the book again because it taught me my first 'proper' sleights. If it helps, I'm pretty sure the same book taught me how to vanish a card too.

Anybody recognise the tricks and know the book (it's obviously at least 2 decades old but I'd imagine older)?

nope. I can't even remember whether it was cards only. I learned a few coin vanishes around the same time but that might have been a different book.

You've made this extremely difficult. There should at least be a prize.

MagicBell wrote:You've made this extremely difficult. There should at least be a prize.

I wouldn't have it any other way. If somebody can help me find the book they can choose from one of the follow fine prizes:

1. A pint of Lager/glass of wine.
B. signed photo of me.
4. Deck of either red/blue backed Bicycles (new)

I can't help, but this reminds me of childhood summer holidays visiting relatives. I found some cracking books on magic in the local libraries (one was a bit advanced for me, but I'm fairly sure it was by Walter Gibson, and had loads on Okito Boxes), but another was aimed at kids and had excellent tricks I hadn't seen before. It even told you how to make 20th Century Silks.

Sadly, I found this book only a few days before I went back home, so didn't really have time to get much out of it.

Strep wrote:
1. Spectator selects a card from the spread, looks at it and puts it back into the deck. The magician then deals down 8 of the bottom cards. He shows the spec the bottom card and puts it face down in front of him. He then discards the next bottom card onto the remaining deck. He shows the next one, then discards the one after that and continues in this manner until he has 4 cards remaining (none of which are the specs). The magician then does the same thing, showing the bottom card, discarding the next, showing the bottom card and discarding the last. Down to 2 cards (again neither of which are the specs). Magician asks the spec to select a card which he then discards. This leaves one card which, when turned over, has 'magically' turned into the spectators card.

Im pretty sure theres a version of this (or similar) in the RRTCM.

Could be wrong, but I have seen something similar.

Thanks for your helpful comments guys, I've got RRTCM and unfortunately it's not the book I'm looking for.