Sleight of Hand: A Practical Manual of Legerdemain for Amateurs & Others - Edwin Thomas Sachs

Do not perform longer than forty-five or fifty minutes at a stretch. Both performer and audience are the better for a short rest at the end of that period, and an interval of ten minutes or so should be allowed. This will enable the performer to re-arrange his shelf, which should always be kept as clear as possible, and to remove articles from the trap bags, &c.

Above all things, keep the hands warm, and for this purpose be provided with a pair of woollen gloves, which wear indoors as well as out, previous to a performance. No one can palm with a hand like ice.

I do not know that I can say anything more without repeating what has already appeared in connection with such tricks as seemed to me to afford the most appropriate opportunities; so my work is done.

To use the words of Byron, "I have nothing further to add, save a general note of thanksgiving to readers, purchasers, and publishers," and to wish the learner all success—but only according to his deserts—with as much true enjoyment as has been experienced by me in the pursuit of Sleight of Hand.

[INDEX]

A.
page
Accommodating bottle, [316]
Aces, congenial, [102]
Action with rapidity, &c., [39]
Addressing audience, style of, [60], [153], [161], [393]
Animated skull, [390]
Anti-gravitation ball, [343]
Anti-spiritualistic tricks, [380]
Apparatus, its uses and abuses, [258]
Apples and ring, [50]
And small eggs, palming, [168]
In cups, [58]
Arm, cutting, with a knife, [83]
Arrangement of stage, [398]
Article, changing an, [171]
Ascending cards, [192]
Ascent of articles in spiritualistic tricks, [383]
Assembly, [136]
Assistant, choosing an, [176], [393]
Attached card, [101]
Audience, seating the, [396]
Style of addressing, [60], [153], [161], [393]
B.
Bacchus' dovecot, [306]
Maypole, [311]
Bag, the egg, [274]
Watch, [363]
Ball and bottle, [308]
Balls and cups, tricks with, [54]
And plates, [80]
Anti-gravitation, [343]
Balls, concealing, [55]
From a hat, multiplying, [353]
Passing and vanishing, [55]
Vanishing, [170]
Vesting, [170]
Wine-drinking, crystal, [308]
Worsted, and coin, [256]
Banker, the, [237]
Bending watches, [362]
Bird and card, [376]
Cages produced from a hat, [356]
Birds, vanishing small, [173]
Blindfold feats, [378]
Borrowed rings, exchanging, for dummies, [175]
Borrowing handkerchiefs, [17], [63]
Watches, [361]
Bottle, accommodating, [316]
And ball, [308]
And dove, [306]
And penknife, [44]
And ribbons, [311]
And tumbler, perambulating, [328]
Magic wine, [316]
Of ginger beer, [287]
Bouquet, spirit, [384]
Bowls of fish, [262]
Boxes, card, [127]
Drawer, [300]
For watch, [364]
Passing coin into, [21]
Watch, [368]
With trap, [395]
Boxing coins, [21]
Brazen rod, magi's, [324], [371]
Breaking watches, [362]
Broad and long cards, [131]
Bundle of firewood produced from hat, [354]
Burning a handkerchief, [62]
Butterfly trick, Japanese, [74]
C.
Cabbage and hat, [349]
Cage, flying, [335]
Cages, bird, produced from hat, [356]
Candle, money-producing, [252]
Passing handkerchief over flame of, without burning, [178]
Cannon ball and hat, [346]
Card and bird, [376]
Tricks, value of, [88]
Cards, ascending, [192]
Assembly, [136]
Attached, [101]
Boxes, [127]
Catching two, in the air, [102]
Causing one to appear in any position in the pack, counting from top or bottom, [123]
Causing one to show itself on the top of the pack, [101]
Chameleon, [132]
Changing, [132]
Changing two, [108]
Clairvoyance, [379]
Congenial aces, [102]
Conjurors', [89]
Cut packs, [130]
Diagonal, [96]
Egyptian pocket, [187]
False shuffle, [99]
Forcing, [117]
Hatched, [205]
La carte générale, [119]
Lady's own trick, [105]
Lightning change, [146]
Long and broad, [131]
Marking, [177]
Missing link, [190]
Napoleon, a game at, [143]
Obliging bouquet, [202]
Palming, [112]
Passes with, [90], [106]
Permeating, [122]
Prepared, [130], [179]
Pricked, [131]
Reversed, [104]
Revolution, the, [129]
Royal marriages, [115]
Salamander, [197]
Sliding, [116]
Sympathetic, [120]
Thought-reading, [140]
Throwing, [129]
Travelling, [135]
Tricks with, [88], [186]
Universal, [119]
Vanishing a pack, [186]
Catching coins in the air, [14]
Two cards in the air, [102]
Causing a card to appear in any position in the pack, counting from top or bottom, [123]
A card to show itself on the top of the pack, [101]
A stick or poker to stand on end, [344]
Challenges, how to answer, [35]
Chameleon card, [132]
Changing articles, [171]
Cards, [132], [146]
Coins, [11], [32]
Dice, [81]
Two cards, [108]
Chinese fire eating, [72]
Lanterns produced from a hat, [356]
Marbles, [70]
Methods of conjuring, [70], [75]
Rings, [296]
Tricks, [70]
Choosing an assistant, [176], [393]
Clairvoyance, [378]
Climax to the hat of plenty, [358]
Coat, cutting person's arm through, [83]
Coin and worsted ball, [256]
Handkerchief, [183]
Coins, banker, the, [237]
Best kind for use, [38]
Boxing, [21]
Catching in the air, [14]
Changing, [11], [32]
Concealing, [12]
Copper superior to silver, [34]
Crystal plateau, [250]
Dancing, [20]
Extracting, from a glass of water, [24]
Flight of, [255]
Folding penny, [27]
Hold them tight!, [242]
Invisible transit, [232]
Marking, [38]
Minor tricks with, [9]
Money changer, [247]
Money-producing candle, [252]
Palm practice with, [9]
Passing into a hat, [13], [23]
Passing many, [16]
Passing or vanishing, [10]
Passing through table, [12]
Selecting, when blindfolded, [23]
Shower of gold, [273]
Showing hands empty while still containing, [177]
Sleeving, [35]
Substituting, [22]
Tricks with, [9], [232]
Vanishing, from a handkerchief, [17]
Coin-vanishing tumbler, [184]
Collecting eggs, [278]
Common objects, tricks with, [39]
Common palm, [5]
Company, producing articles from the persons of the, [166]
Concealing a ball, [55]
Coins, [12]
Cone and drawer-box, [304]
Congenial aces, [102]
Conjuring table, substitute for, [394]
Conjuror's shelf, [156], [395]
Cooking and making a pudding in a hat, [293]
A "Welsh rabbit", [374]
Copper coins superior to silver, [34]
Cork, false, [30]
Corks, Houdin's dessert of, [84]
Corks, tricks with, [84]
Cornucopian hat, [346]
Cotton, cutting up piece of, [46]
Crystal ball, wine-drinking, [308]
Plateau, [250]
Cup, passing one through another, [61]
Cups and balls, tricks with, [54]
And oranges, apples, &c., [58]
From a hat, shower of, [352]
Cut packs of cards, [130]
Cutting a person's arm with a knife, [83]
Up piece of cotton, [46]
D.
Dancing coins, [20]
Sailor, [339]
Decanted handkerchief, [224]
Deception and rapidity of action, [39]
Dessert of corks, Houdin's, [84]
Destroying a watch, [362]
Devil's handkerchief, [182]
Diagonal pass with cards, [96]
Dice, changing, [81]
Dictionary trick, great, [336]
Die trick, Houdin's, with additional effects, [259]
Distribution from a hat, [350]
Dolls produced from a hat, [355]
Dove and bottle, [306]
Mesmerising a, [175]
Dovecot, Bacchus', [306]
Doves, vanishing, [173]
Drawer-box, [300]
And cone, [304]
Drawing-room magic, [4]
Dress for a conjuror, [160]
E.
Eating fire, [72]
Egg bag, the, [274]
Orange, &c., produced from wand, [164]
Eggs and small apples, palming, [168]
Collecting, [278]
Magician's, [183]
Productive, [184]
Egyptian pocket card trick, [187]
Electric touch, [389]
England, flags of Old, [295]
Exchanging borrowed rings for dummies, [175]
Extracting a coin from a glass of water, [24]
F.
Fairy flower, [327]
False shuffle with cards, [99]
Feast of lanterns, Chinese, [356]
Fiery hands, writings, &c., [387]
Filter tumblers, [79]
Final instructions, [392]
Finding sweetmeats in a handkerchief, [65]
Finger palm, [6]
Fire eating, Chinese, [72]
Firewood, bundle of, produced from hat, [354]
Fish and bowl, [262]
And ink, [265]
Flags of Old England, [295]
Flight of coins, [255]
Flower, fairy, [327]
Ring in, [183]
Flowers produced from hat, [351]
Flying cage, [335]
Plume and seed, [291]
Folding penny, [27]
Forcing cards, [117]
Fork or spoon through a tumbler, passing, [79]
Fowl, resuscitated, [280]
G.
Game at Napoleon, [143]
Gant de Paris, [228]
General instruction and management in stage conjuring, [149]
Remarks, [149], [392]
Ginger beer, bottle of, [287]
Glass of sherry, vanishing, [77]
Of water, extracting a coin from, [24]
Of water, to invert, [271]
Of water, ubiquitous, [267]
Glass, talking, [384]
Glove, gant de Paris, [228]
Gloves suitable for conjurors, [398]
Gold-fish and ink, [265]
Trick, [262]
Gold, shower of, [273]
Grand, or stage magic, [149]
H.
Half-crown wand, [237]
Handkerchief, coin, [183]
Decanted, [224]
Devil's, [182]
Finding sweetmeats in, [65]
For egg collecting, [278]
Lengthening a, [66]
Passing through flame of candle without burning, [178]
Restored, [210]
Ring and wand, [49]
Through the leg, pulling a, [64]
Twisting, [69]
Tying knot instantaneously, [68]
Tying knot on wrist, [69]
Untying knot in, by word of command, [65]
Vanishing coins from, [17]
Handkerchiefs, borrowing, [17], [63]
Burning, [62]
Knots, [218]
Melting, [226]
Sun and moon, [215]
Tricks with, [62], [210]
Vanishing and reproducing, [171]
Hands, fiery, [387]
To show, empty, while still containing coins, [177]
Harmless shot, [282]
Hat and cabbage, [349]
And cannon-ball, [346]
Bird cages produced from, [356]
Bundle of firewood produced from, [354]
Chinese lanterns produced from, [356]
Cornucopian, [346]
Distribution of presents from, [350]
Dolls produced from, [355]
Flowers produced from, [351]
Making and cooking a pudding in, [293]
Multiplying balls produced from, [353]
Of plenty, [346]
Of plenty, climax to, [358]
Passing coins into, [13], [23]
Rabbits produced from, [372]
Reticules produced from, [355]
Shower of cups from, [352]
With trap, [395]
Hatched card, [205]
Hold them tight!, [242]
Houdin's dessert of corks, [84]
Die trick, with additional effects, [259]
I.
Incubation by magic, [276]
Ink and gold-fish, [265]
Instruction and general management in stage conjuring, [149]
Instructions, final, [392]
Intervals during performances, [398]
Introduction, [1]
Of music in performances, [397]
Introductory stage tricks, [161]
Inverting glass of water, [271]
Invisible transit of coins, [232]
J.
Japanese butterfly trick, [74]
K.
Kling-klang, [281]
Knife and squares of paper, [42]
Cutting a person's arm with, [83]
Swallowing, [85]
Knot on the wrist, tying a, [69]
That will not draw tight, tying a, [67]
Tying instantaneously, [68]
Untying at word of command, [65]
Knots in handkerchief, [218]
L.
La carte générale, [119]
Lady's own trick with cards, [105]
Lanterns, Chinese, produced from a hat, [356]
Large objects from the hand, vanishing, [167]
Leg, pulling a handkerchief through the, [64]
Length of time for performance, [398]
Lengthening a handkerchief, [66]
Live stock and watches, tricks with, [361]
Long and broad cards, [131]
M.
Magical wine, [337]
Magician's eggs, [183]
Magic, incubation by, [276]
Omelette, [332]
Plateau, [185]
Wine bottle, [316]
Magi's brazen rod, [324], [371]
Making and cooking a pudding in a hat, [293]
Management and instruction in stage conjuring, general, [149]
Manner when performing, [249]
Marbles, Chinese, [70]
Marking coins, [38]
Maypole, Bacchus's, [311]
Meddlers, punishment of, [151]
Mesmeric suspension wand, [318]
Mesmerised poker, [344], [382]
Mesmerising a dove, [175]
Mesmerism, sham, [378]
Misdirection, [40]
Missing link, [190]
Money changer, [247]
Tube, [239]
Money-producing candle, [252]
Mortar and pestle for watches, [362]
Mouth, producing yards of paper from the, [73]
Multiplying balls obtained from a hat, [353]
Music, introduction of, in performance, [397]
N.
Napoleon, a game at, [143]
Nest of boxes, [21]
Novel "Welsh rabbit", [374]
O.
Obliging bouquet card trick, [202]
Omelette, magic, [332]
Oranges, apples, &c., in cups, [58]
Produced from wand, [164]
Vanishing, [170]
Vesting, [170]
P.
Palm practice with coins, [9]
Palming cards, [112]
Coins, [5]
Common, [5]
Finger, [6]
Proper, [5]
Quick, practising, [17]
Reverse, [7]
Small eggs, apples, &c., [168]
Sugar, [40]
Thumb, [6]
Use of the wand in, [12]
With both hands, [22]
Paper and knife, [42]
From the mouth, producing yards of, [73]
Passes with cards, [90], [106]
Passing and vanishing a ball, [55]
Articles through traps, [158]
Coins, [9]
Coins into a hat, [13], [23]
Coins through a table, [12]
Fork or spoon through tumbler, [79]
Many coins, [16]
Penny into soda-water bottle, [27]
Ring into an egg, [334]
"Patter", [154]
Penknife and bottle, [44]
Penny, folding, [27]
passing, into soda-water bottle, [27]
Perambulating bottle and tumbler, [328]
Walking stick, [382]
Performance, length of time for, [398]
Introduction of music in, [397]
Performer's private programme, [397]
Performing, manner when, [249]
Preparations before, [149]
Skill in, [346]
Permeable plates, [80]
Permeating card, [122]
Pestle and mortar for watches, [362]
Plateau, magic, [185]
Plate, vanishing a, [78]
Plates and balls, [80]
Permeable, [80]
Plenty, hat of, [346]
Plume and seed, flying, [291]
Plumes, shower of, [326]
Pocket, Egyptian, card trick, [187]
Poker, mesmerised, [344], [382]
Or stick to stand on end, causing, [344], [382]
Preparations before performing, [149], [392]
Prepared cards, [130], [179]
Presents distributed from a hat, [350]
Pricked cards, [131]
Private programme, performer's, [397]
Producing articles from the persons of the company, [166]
Yards of paper from the mouth, [73]
Productive eggs, [184]
Programmes, [397]
Performer's private, [397]
Properties and sleights for general use, [163]
Pudding cooking and making in a hat, [293]
Pulling a handkerchief through the leg, [64]
Punishment of meddlers, [151]
Putty watches, [362]
R.
"Rabbit," cooking a, [374]
Novel "Welsh", [374]
Rabbits produced from hat, [372]
Reproducing, [373]
Tricks with, [372]
Rapidity and deception of action, [39]
Remarks, general, [149]
Repetition of tricks, [152]
Restored handkerchief, [210]
Resuscitated fowl, [280]
Reticules produced from a hat, [355]
Reversed card, [104]
Reverse palm, [7]
Revolution of cards, [129]
Ribbons and bottle, [311]
Ring, flying, [183]
Rings and apple, [50]
And wand, [51]
Chinese, [296]
Exchanging borrowed for dummies, [175]
Handkerchief, and wand, [49]
Inside an egg, [335]
Palming, [49]
Tricks with, [49], [334]
Rod, Magi's brazen, [324], [371]
Roll, watch in, [178]
Royal marriages with cards, [115]
S.
Sack trick, [338]
Sailor dancing, [339]
Salamander card, [197]
Seating the audience, [396]
Second sight, imitation, [378]
Seed and flying plume, [291]
Selecting a coin whilst blindfolded, [23]
Sham mesmerism, [378]
Shelf, the conjuror's, [156], [395]
Sherry, vanishing a glass of, [77]
Shot, harmless, [282]
Shower of cups from a hat, [352]
Of gold, [273]
Plumes, [326]
Shuffling, false, with cards, [99], [179]
Skill in performing, [346]
Skull, animated, [390]
Slate trick, [386]
Sleeving coins, [35]
Sleights and properties for general use, [163]
Sliding cards, [116]
Small birds, vanishing, [173]
Soda-water bottle, passing penny into, [27]
Spirit bouquet, [384]
Spiritualistic animated skull, [390]
Ascent of articles, [383]
Electric touch, [389]
Fiery hands, writings, &c., [387]
Mesmerised poker, [344], [382]
Perambulating walking stick, [382]
Slate trick, [386]
Spirit bouquet, [384]
Talking glass, [384]
Tricks, [380]
Writings, &c., [387]
Spoon or fork passing through a tumbler, [79]
Stage, arrangement of, [398]
Conjuring, dress for, [160]
General instruction and management, [149]
Or grand magic, [149]
Tables for, [155]
Traps for, [156]
Stick and poker to stand on end, causing, [344], [382]
Style of addressing audience, [60], [153], [161], [393]
Substitute for a conjuring table, [394]
Substituting coins, [22]
Sugar, palming, [40]
Sun and moon, [215]
Suspension wand, mesmeric, [318]
Swallowing a knife, [85]
A watch, [368]
Sweetmeats, finding in a handkerchief, [65]
Sympathetic cards, [120]
T.
Table and dress, [156]
Tricks at, [72]
Tables, passing coins through, [12]
Position of, [396]
Selecting, [155]
substitute for conjuring, [394]
Talking glass, [384]
Targets for watches, [365]
Thought-reading with cards, [141]
Throwing a card, [129]
Thumb palm, [6]
Time for performance, length of, [398]
Touch, electric, [389]
Transit of coins, invisible, [232]
Trap box, [395]
Traps for stage conjuring, [156]
In high hat, [395]
Passing articles through, [158]
Travelling cards, [135]
Tying a knot instantaneously, [68]
A knot on the wrist, [69]
A knot that will not draw tight, [67]
Tumbler, coin-vanishing, [184]
Filter, [79]
Passing a fork or spoon through, [79]
Perambulating bottle and, [328]
U.
Ubiquitous glass of water, [267]
Universal card, [119]
Untying a knot at word of command, [65]
V.
Vanishing and passing a ball, [55]
Articles through traps, [158]
Coins, [10]
Coins from a handkerchief, [17]
Doves, [173]
Glass of sherry, [77]
Handkerchiefs, [171]
Large objects from the hands, [167]
Oranges, &c., [170]
Pack of cards, [186]
Plates, [78]
Small birds, [173]
Vesting, [160], [170]
W.
Walking stick, perambulating, [382]
Wand and ring, [51]
Half-crown, [237]
Finding articles in, [305]
Mesmeric suspension, [318]
Passing down throat, [368]
Purchasing, [3]
Ring and handkerchief, [49]
Use of, in palming, [12]
Warm hands, necessity for, [398]
Watches, bag for, [363]
Bending, [362]
Box for, [368]
Borrowing, [361]
Breaking, [362]
Causing to appear on assistant's back, [367]
Putty, [362]
Reproducing, [364]
Swallowing, [368]
Targets for, [365]
Tricks with, [360]
Water, inverting glass of, [271]
Ubiquitous glass of, [267]
"Welsh rabbit," novel, [374]
Wine bottle, magic, [316]
Magical, [337]
Wine-drinking crystal ball, [308]
Worsted ball and coin, [256]
Wrist, tying a knot on the, [69]
Writings, fiery, [387]