A limited number of copies of our journal are available. If you need one this is the time to order, they won’t be reprinted.
Gibecière Vol. 4, No. 2
In addition to the translation, there are also introductory and supplementary articles by Stephen Minch, Juan Tamariz, and Enrique Jimènez-Martinez, including a checklist of editions by Mr. Jimènez-Martinez and William Kalush. Original copies of Minguet are rather rare so it is a real treat to offer this translation which, combined with the supplementary materials, provides a unique opportunity to learn a great deal about a fascinating and previously inaccessible work.
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Gibecière Vol. 4, No. 1
We begin with “The Thought-Reader Craze” by Barry Wiley. Well known for his scholarship, this article features original research and commentary on the fascinating beginnings of the one-man mental act, and the techniques of contact mind-reading and muscle reading. A number of engaging characters and stories emerge during this study, featuring John Randall Brown, Washington Irving Bishop, and Stuart Cumberland. Our second article in this issue features the fifth installment of Mitsunobu Matsuyama’s “An Investigation into Magic in Japan After the Opening of the Country”. The previous four installments have appeared in previous issues and are quite glorious. This article is similarly endowed. Of course we have included a number of striking photos and graphics to highlight the text. Additionally, the issue features a number of improvements in design, including a splendid embossed cover, that make this one of the most beautiful issues ever.
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Gibecière Vol. 3, No. 2
The first article, “Vernon the Mesmerist”, is by Peter Lamont, author of The Rise and Fall of the Indian Rope Trick and The First Psychic, and features the escapades of W.J. Vernon, a proponent of phrenology and mesmerism. The next article features a further installment in Mitsunobu Matsuyama’s series “An Investigation into Magic in Japan after the Opening of the Country”. This time he looks at some of the first magicians to adopt western magic effects and some of the early foreign magicians to introduce western magic into Japan. Finally we end with a look at the history of nail writing and pencil reading in “Lessons Written with a Small Gimmick” by Loren Pankratz. In addition to providing some of the earliest references to date for these secret subterfuges, there is also some intriguing information on two fascinating characters, William Eglinton and S.J. Davey, whose methods were considered superior to the prominent Henry Slade and still leave even present day magicians nonplussed. If you haven’t yet joined this would be the perfect time to do so. We have printed a limited quantity and don’t intend to ever reprint. Join now or perhaps miss your chance to own and read this look into our history.
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Gibecière Vol. 3, No. 1
Dr. William Spooner has contributed a history of the ideomechanic pendulum commonly known as the “Sex Detector.” Volker Huber returns to provide a solution to the source of German artist Max Beckmann’s puzzling lithograph, “Magic Mirror.” We have also included the first English translation of Satana raccolta Europea: passatempo dell’intermezzo nelle sedute: di magia egiziana: del cavaliere Bartolomeo Bosco, a rare and early biography of the renowned sleight-of-hand performer Bartolomeo Bosco. And we are very excited that this new translation includes an introduction by Ricky Jay.
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Gibecière Vol. 2, No. 2
In 1593, Venice, Italy, Horatio Galasso’s Giochi di carte belissimi(Most beautiful card games) was printed for the first time. No less important for our history than Scot’s Discoverie of witchcraft or Prevost’s La premiere partie des svbtiles, et plaisantes inventions, Galasso’s book broke new ground in early card magic. During the late 16th century we have numerous accounts of great sleight of hand men traveling around Europe performing card magic, but with Galasso’s seminal work we now have a book with numerous methods. Here for the first time is the explanation of what became the famous 21 card trick. Also here for the first time is the system that would later be attributed to Si Stebbins. This rare treasure, which is only known in two examples, has now been translated into English by Lori Pieper. More importantly, we now have the distinct pleasure of publishing the esteemed Vanni Bossi’s detailed analysis of this wonderful book.
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Gibecière Vol. 2, No. 1
We start with Volker Huber’s “The Educated Swan”. Here he looks in depth at the history and development of this centuries-old trick. This issue continues Mitsunobu Matsuyama’s look at Japanese magic from issue two with “An Investigation into Magic in Japan after the Opening of the Country, Part II”. Aurelio Paviato looks into an early book to bring us a number of salient references to cheating and magic in “Notes on Pietro Aretino’s Le Carte Parlanti”. We conclude with a fascinating discovery of what may well be a previously unrecorded professional magician in the Bamberg line. Peter Bräuning documents his findings in the article “Abraham Bamberg: The Augmentation of a Dynasty”. All in all a great issue from our talented contributors. If you are not currently a member, please look intojoining in order to receive future issues of Gibeciere and other benefits.
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Gibecière Vol. 1, No. 2
The first article marks the beginning of Mitsunobu Matsuyama’s enlightening series of articles, “An Investigation into Magic in Japan after the Opening of the Country”. Albrecht Heeffer contributes the next article, “Recreations Mathematiques: A Study of Its Authorship, Sources and Influence”. Here Dr. Heefer presents a new candidate for the authorship of the book as well as a detailed look at its place in the literature. We round out these pieces with a biographical article by Mike Caveney on “Del Adelphia, The Cowboy Magician”, a previously forgotten, yet fascinating character in our history. These articles cover a broad spectrum of wonderful topics, and it is with pleasure that we offer them to the fraternity.
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Gibecière Vol. 1, No. 1
A fascinating article on “The Yawning Mouth”, by Volker Huber, starts the issue. Mr. Huber looks at the origins of the principle and then moves forward to the various incarnations it will take in the course of its history, including Jacob’s Ladder and the Himber Wallet. Vanni Bossi contributes the next article entitled “On the Prearrangement and Mnemonic Use of a deck of Cards”, which, as you may have guessed, looks at early references for arranged playing cards and methods for taking advantage of the order for magic and related purposes. The third article, “Sharpers and Their Tricks in the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Times” by Robert Jütte, features commentary on organized crime during that period, specifically with regard to gambling cheats and their argot, society, and methods. The final article is by Ricky Jay and is a history on “Davenport Brother & Fay”, a duo of Ira Davenport and William Fay trying to recreate the act that had won the Davenport Brothers their fame and notoriety prior to William Davenport’s early death. As you can see, the first issue contains a wealth of fascinating articles and, since we have only printed a limited number, and do not intend a reprint, now is a good time to acquire one of these for your collection. Also, please look into receiving and supporting these important works in the future by joining the Conjuring Arts Research Center.
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