Conjuring Arts Research Center » Books http://conjuringarts.org all the best about the world of magic. Mon, 07 May 2012 21:47:09 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 La biblioteca digital de ilusionismo http://conjuringarts.org/2011/12/la-biblioteca-digital-del-ilusionismo/ http://conjuringarts.org/2011/12/la-biblioteca-digital-del-ilusionismo/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:05:15 +0000 noahlevine http://conjuringarts.org/?p=3672 Digital Library of Illusion

Our dear friend the brilliant magician Luis Piedrahita recently told us about La biblioteca digital de ilusionismo (Digital Library of Illusion) – a fascinating digital resource for magicians and scholars. At the moment, this library offers access to 62 fully scanned volumes divided into categories: Card Magic, Mentalism, Prestidigitation, White Magic, Magic History, and Scientific Magic.

This database is a part of the Fundación Juan March that was founded in 1955 by Spanish Financier Juan March Ordinas. Based in Madrid, the institution is dedicated to science and the humanities, with a special emphasis on the arts. The Library of Illusion is a special collection meant to compliment the Spanish Library of Contemporary Music and Theater (as well as a massive collection from the library of Argentinean writer Julio Cortázar).

Of particular note, this database provides access to Spain’s first true magic book: Engaños a ojos vistos by Pablo Minguet Madrid, 1733; as well as many other titles, including J. Mieg’s comprehensive El brujo en sociedad Madrid, 1839. Readers will find texts in other languages, such as: Henri Decremps’s La magie blanche dévoilée Paris, 1789, and, a more recent title, Harlan Tarbell’s Crazy Stunts Minneapolis, 1929. There are a number of Spanish translations, in particular: Robert-Houdin’s French L’art de gagner a tous les jeux Paris, 1890 and Carlo Willman’s German Die Moderne Salon-Magie Valencia, 1897.

These digital books have been scanned at a high resolution so that each page looks as it would in real life. Unlike the physical volumes in a rare book room, these books require no special handling or reading stands, and can be flipped through rapidly and noisily. (A Flash animation provides this effect). They are also fully searchable.

The impetus for this project came with a donation from the library of Spanish magic historian José Puchol de Montís in 1988. With nearly 2,000 titles to draw from, we hope that this digital resource will continue to grow.

]]> http://conjuringarts.org/2011/12/la-biblioteca-digital-del-ilusionismo/feed/ 1 Hocus Pocus Project’s Book Author: Allan Zola Kronzek! http://conjuringarts.org/2011/08/hocus-pocus-projects-book-author-allan-zola-kronzek/ http://conjuringarts.org/2011/08/hocus-pocus-projects-book-author-allan-zola-kronzek/#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:44:44 +0000 rickysmith http://conjuringarts.org/?p=3156 Good news! Conjuring Arts’ outreach program, The Hocus Pocus Project, was recently mentioned during an interview with Allan Zola Kronzek. Allan’s doing some book signings in the near future for the release of his updated edition of the Sorcerer’s Companion.  When asked about any forthcoming writing, he mentioned his next book is going to be for the Hocus Pocus Project! It is called the Book of Powers and will be given to HPP participants so that they have access to further advice and training outside of the live lessons.  People outside of HPP participants will be able to purchase the book as well, and all the proceeds go on to support the Project.

Mr. Kronzek is the author of a number of excellent books on magic, which we recommend you check out, and we are certain that the Book of Powers will turn out to be a work of exceptional value for the Hocus Pocus Project and everyone else! Thanks Allan!

Here is a link to the article on Mr. Kronzek:

http://danshamptons.com/article/lead-stories/lead-stories/bookhampton-brings-harry-potter-magic/

 

]]> http://conjuringarts.org/2011/08/hocus-pocus-projects-book-author-allan-zola-kronzek/feed/ 0 EMC 2011 and Ask Alexander Research Contest http://conjuringarts.org/2011/07/emc-2011-and-ask-alexander-research-contest/ http://conjuringarts.org/2011/07/emc-2011-and-ask-alexander-research-contest/#comments Sat, 30 Jul 2011 17:04:37 +0000 rickysmith http://conjuringarts.org/?p=3109 Hello Team!

As a special treat for EMC 2011 attendees, we are offering a contest! Everyone that registered for the convention before July 4th has received special EMC 2011 level access to Ask Alexander. The challenge will be to use Ask Alexander to answer the question posted below as quickly as possible. The first person submitting the correct answer(s) will win ten decks of our playing cards, postage paid anywhere in the world! We hope that you have a good time using your complimentary Ask Alexander access and find many more things along the way!

Question:

A magician uses a double lift that can be described as “impeccable” in a legendary magazine for a feat that was “double”-y legendary. Search this magician’s name along with Peter Pit to find, if you look back, something out of place. What is it?

E-mail your answers to: EMCanswer1@conjuringarts.org Contest is closed…see the answer and the winner below!

Answer:

Congratulations to Frank Yuen for his correct answer of our contest question! The correct answer was “a card”. The answer can be arrived at by looking for Impeccable Double, a Howie Schwarzman technique from Professional Card Magic by Cliff Green, in Jon Racherbaumer’s The Legendary Hierophant. You will find a story of Persi Diaconis performing the technique with two doubles! Searching for Persi Diaconis and Peter Pit leads one to several pages, one of which is a trick in Genii magazine called the “The Card on the Back”, so, if you look back for something out of place, it is a card!

Hopefully everyone that attempted the contest enjoyed their search and is considering becoming a member of Conjuring Arts!

Thanks!

]]> http://conjuringarts.org/2011/07/emc-2011-and-ask-alexander-research-contest/feed/ 0 The Expert at the Card Table T-Shirts! http://conjuringarts.org/2011/07/the-expert-at-the-card-table-t-shirts/ http://conjuringarts.org/2011/07/the-expert-at-the-card-table-t-shirts/#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:15:49 +0000 rickysmith http://conjuringarts.org/?p=3064 Greetings! We are very pleased to announce that we have been generously given the opportunity to sell the excellent Expert at the Card Table t-shirts that Alex Pandrea and his delightful company, The Blue Crown, have made available! They are made to resemble the cover of the first edition or an illustration of the Diagonal Palm Shift and are of the finest quality American Apparel t-shirts. The Blue Crown has really done the Expert right with a shirt that you will be proud to wear and own, and we are delighted to offer them.

They are 50% combed cotton and 50% polyester and feel very soft and well made. Special thanks to our super model, Dave Buck, for showing them off! Additionally they are available in a variety of sizes (Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and XXL). Enjoy!

Please note that these will be sent separate by Alex Pandrea and the Blue Crown.

Order Now!

]]> http://conjuringarts.org/2011/07/the-expert-at-the-card-table-t-shirts/feed/ 1 De viribus quantitatis by Luca Pacioli http://conjuringarts.org/2011/05/de-viribus-quantitatis-by-luca-pacioli/ http://conjuringarts.org/2011/05/de-viribus-quantitatis-by-luca-pacioli/#comments Thu, 12 May 2011 14:09:10 +0000 rickysmith http://conjuringarts.org/?p=2918 We are very pleased to offer a few copies of a very elegant publication of De viribus quantitatis for sale on our website. This important treatise represents what could be the first book largely devoted to magic and one of the very first places to describe card tricks, as well as numerous other principles. This also represents the first time the book has been published! Dating from the 1490s, it was written by Fra. Luca Pacioli with help from his colleague, and Renaissance [Super] Man, Leonardo da Vinci, no less.

This edition features three books in a slip case and everything is a marvel to behold. There is a facsimile of the original manuscript in old Italian, an analysis in modern Italian, and a summary and commentary in English. The books are beautiful, and there was definitely no expense spared in this sumptuous reprint. (Notice: this is not an English translation!)

Although everything is not translated into English, it is a remarkable work in both authorship and the physical presence of this new edition. Highly recommended to collectors, those interested in history, or anyone that can read Italian! It is very hard to get in the US, and we are lucky to be able to offer the few copies that we do have available.

Here is an article about the book and information concerning a possible English translation in the future: The Guardian

The cost is $279 postpaid in the US.
$299 to Canada.
$319 elsewhere.

Order yours here!

]]> http://conjuringarts.org/2011/05/de-viribus-quantitatis-by-luca-pacioli/feed/ 0 Gibecière Vol. 6, No. 1 http://conjuringarts.org/2011/01/our-11th-issue-of-gibeciere/ http://conjuringarts.org/2011/01/our-11th-issue-of-gibeciere/#comments Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:23:52 +0000 rickysmith http://conjuringarts.org/?p=2625 Gibecière Vol. 6, No. 1

The 11th issue of Gibecière is finished, and we are very excited. This particular issue contains a real treat as we have finally persuaded the delightful Jim Steinmeyer to contribute an article, an addition to our list of contributors that we have been hoping for since the journal began. Additionally we have articles by Mitsunobu Matsuyama, William Kalush and Stephen Minch, and a translation from Lori Pieper!

Jim Steinmeyer’s article, “The Spider in the Flies”, neatly transitions from Joshua Jay’s “Tragic Magic” in the last issue, as it has to do with murder, although it is not the magician this time who is the victim. There is quite a bit more to this novel mystery which we leave you to work out by reading Mr. Steinmeyer’s enlightening article.

Mitsunobu Matsuyama provides a seventh(!) installment in his fascinating series, “An Investigation into Magic in Japan”. This time the history intertwines with several of magic’s biggest names: Maskelyne, Devant, and Chung Ling Soo. M. Gintaro may have performed at the Maskelyne and Devant theaters more than any other magician, possibly more than 6,000 performances! Frank Kametaro was Chung Ling Soo’s right-hand man who also, tragically, gave the order to fire during the performance of the bullet catch which cost the life of Soo. These and several other individuals are documented in this installment.

We round out this issue with a new translation of the magic section of Ozanam by the ever diligent Lori Pieper. The translation is introduced by Mr. William Kalush and Mr. Stephen Minch in their article, “The Influence of Ozanam”, which looks at where the text may have come from and the later texts that may have benefited from its popularity.

In all, we are very happy with this issue and are sure that you will find much of interest.

These will be sent out to members as soon as we receive them, so, if you want to get one, make sure that your membership is up to date. Also, if you are not a member, please join by going here. In addition to the journal we offer numerous other benefits, not the least of which is our searchable magic database Ask Alexander.

Join Now

]]> http://conjuringarts.org/2011/01/our-11th-issue-of-gibeciere/feed/ 1 Magic History’s Greatest Deal Ever! http://conjuringarts.org/2010/12/magic-historys-greatest-deal-ever/ http://conjuringarts.org/2010/12/magic-historys-greatest-deal-ever/#comments Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:34:32 +0000 rickysmith http://conjuringarts.org/?p=2539

All 10 Back Issues of Gibecière:  $299!

Stuff your stockings with magic history: Get or give all 10 back issues of Gibecière for $299 ($329 Non-Members)!

For a limited time, Conjuring Arts is offering a complete collection of back issues of our flagship journal, Gibecière, for the low package Member price of $299, US postage paid.

That means nearly 1,900 beautifully bound pages of engaging, groundbreaking, and intelligent writing on and images of magic history discussed by renowned contributors such as Ricky Jay, Juan Tamariz, Volker Huber, Vanni Bossi and many others.  Edited by Stephen Minch, Gibecière is the only journal of its kind in the world.  Bought individually, without Membership, this set costs $434.50 + shipping.  But we’re giving everyone a discount on this bundle of 10 issues!

Members who live in the US: All 10 back issues: $299 and we pay the postage!  (Save $165.50!)
Members outside of the US: All 10 back issues: $369 shipping Priority Mail  (Save $195.50!)

Non-Members in the US: All 10 back issues: $329 and we pay the postage!  (Save 135.50!)
Non-Members outside of the US: All 10 back issues: $399 shipping Priority Mail  (Save $165.50)

Best Deal:
Buy/Renew a Charlier Membership ($95 Domestic/$122 International) and the 10 Back Issue Bundle and get our most special deal:

This Deal is 1 Year of Charlier Level Ask Alexander Access, 10 Back Issue Gibecieres + the 2 issues forthcoming = 12 issues in all!

The number of sets is limited, so get yours today.  Gibecière also makes the perfect holiday gift for that insatiably curious friend or family member.

“One looks forward eagerly to the next issue of Gibecière [...] if anyone can unearth ancient accounts of conjuring, it will be Kalush and his merry band of scholars.”
- Martin Gardner

Below is a sample of what you can find in our back issues.  Find all the summaries of each of the 10 issues on our Gibeciere page at conjuringarts.org.

Volume 1, No. 1
Winter 2005
The heralded premiere issue of Gibecière features:

  • Volker Huber on the history of the Himber Wallet
  • Vanni Bossi chronicling Mnemonic Decks
  • Robert Jutte on card mechanics of the Middle Ages
  • Ricky Jay on the Davenport Brothers & Fay
Volume 1, No. 2
Summer 2006
In this issue Mitsunobu Matsuyama begins a series of articles investigating magic in Japan after the opening of the country.  Also:

  • A study of Récréations Mathématique by Albrecht Heeffer
  • Mike Caveney on Del Adelphia, the Cowboy Magician
Volume 2, No. 1
Winter 2007
In his introductory Pocket Notes, editor Stephen Minch writes, “This issue furthers our desire for the international exploration of the history of magic, featuring four articles by scholars in Germany, Italy, and Japan.”

  • The Educated Swan – Volker Huber
  • Part II of An Investigation into Magic in Japan After the Opening of the Country – Mitsunobu Matsuyama
  • Notes on Pietro Aretino’s LE CARTE PARLANTI – Aurelio Paviato
  • Abraham Bamberg: The Augmentation of a Dynasty – Peter Bräuning
Volume 2, No. 2
Summer 2007
In a brief departure from our usual style, we dedicate this issue to the translation and analysis of one of the rarest and most important books in the history of magic.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, as well as the system that would later be attributed to Si Stebbins.

This rare treasure, which is only known in two examples, has been translated into English by Lori Pieper.

More importantly, we have the distinct pleasure of publishing the esteemed late Vanni Bossi’s detailed analysis of this wonderful book.

Volume 3, No. 1
Winter 2008
In this issue is another first-time English translation, this one a brief biography of Bartolomeo Bosco, first published in France in 1851 and, shortly after, appearing in Italian edited by F.A. Rosental.  Ricky Jay is back to provide the introduction to The Adventures of Bartolomeo Bosco.  Also inside is:

  • Part III of Mitsunobu Matsuyama’s Investigation into Magic in Japan After the Opening of the Country
  • William E. Spooner traces the dubious and fascinating history of the ideomechanic pendulum commonly known as The Sex Detector.
  • Max Beckmann and His Magic Mirror by Volker Huber
Volume 3, No. 2
Summer 2008
In this issue, along with Part IV of Matsuyama’s in-depth analysis of Japanese magic history, are two articles that dip into the rich and frequently turgid depths of the symbiotic relationship between magic and deception.  They are:

  • Vernon the Mesmerist – Peter Lamont
  • Lessons Written with a Small Gimmick – Loren Pankratz
]]> http://conjuringarts.org/2010/12/magic-historys-greatest-deal-ever/feed/ 0 Libraries of the Future! http://conjuringarts.org/2010/11/libraries-of-the-future/ http://conjuringarts.org/2010/11/libraries-of-the-future/#comments Sun, 14 Nov 2010 22:20:40 +0000 rickysmith http://conjuringarts.org/?p=2465 A recent LA Times cover article on libraries featured a mention of Conjuring Arts! The article is the third in a series looking at how technology is changing libraries and mentions us with regard to our efforts to digitize our library.

Read the article here

]]> http://conjuringarts.org/2010/11/libraries-of-the-future/feed/ 0 Erdnase in Space! http://conjuringarts.org/2010/11/erdnase-in-space/ http://conjuringarts.org/2010/11/erdnase-in-space/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:12:24 +0000 rickysmith http://conjuringarts.org/?p=2430

On September 6, 2007, Derek Delgaudio filmed this video which documents what we believe is the first example of Erdnase’s The Expert at the Card Table in zero gravity. We were very fortunate that he chose to use our pocket sized edition (available here) for this awesome Erdnase milestone. Thanks Derek!

]]> http://conjuringarts.org/2010/11/erdnase-in-space/feed/ 0 Conjuring Arts with an Emphasis on Arts! http://conjuringarts.org/2010/10/conjuring-arts-with-an-emphasis-on-arts/ http://conjuringarts.org/2010/10/conjuring-arts-with-an-emphasis-on-arts/#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:48:26 +0000 rickysmith http://conjuringarts.org/?p=2373 We were recently visited by Alex Pandrea, a student at Baruch College in New York, who is minoring in Photography. As one of the projects for his Advanced Black and White Film class, he chose to take some pictures of the Conjuring Arts Research Center and was kind enough to let us put them up on our website. For those that don’t know, Alex is also a very talented young magician who, in addition to having published several great things in the past, is currently working with Dan and Dave Buck on a couple of new and very cool projects so look out for those.

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