Card Tricks – Collins Gem
ISBN 0-00-718394-1
The Effect
Over 60 card tricks starting with the basic card skills needed to develop, giving advice on how practice and develop a good performance. Colour coded pages divide the trick sections for ease of use
1. Introduction to cards (includes card handling, preparation and performing)
1. Tricks using key cards
2. Mathematical card tricks
3. Tricks using stacked decks
4. Tricks using slight of hand
5. Tricks using 2 decks of cards
6. Card novelties
Cost
£4.99
Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
I would say starting at 1 ending at a 3.
Review
Each trick is described with step by step instructions, complemented by clear photographs which are a welcomed change to the usually drawings. The tricks are arranged by type in ascending order of difficulty.
Each trick is described like this:
Effect
Equipment
Preperation
Performing
The book is small enough to fit in the top pocket of a shirt or jacket, which makes for a good travelling companion. The colour photos are fantastic quality it is well structured and details each trick in very easy steps. It has very basic tricks like the Piano Trick and Do as I do, working on to the Si Stebbins stacked method, you will also be taught overhand shuffle, the false overhand shuffle, controlling top and bottom cards, riffle shuffle, false riffle shuffle, various flourishes, spreads, glimpse, cuts, palming and a DL. Basically there is enough shown in this little book to perform some of the harder tricks.
For somebody wanting an introduction into card magic this book is great, the colour photos make it stand above some of the others out there.
Overall
7.5 - 10
) and I think that I picked this up a year back ago...it's a nice tidy little book, good for the beginner as Leighton said.