2016 Reprint of 1920s Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Professor Hoffmann was the first in recorded history to attempt to record magic in an encyclopedic fashion beginning with his "Modern Magic." The material in this book [and others he wrote] recorded the state of the art of magic of the late 19th century. The first edition of 2,000 copies were sold out in seven weeks. Most magicians at the time were upset with the exposure. But over time it became the "bible" for many would be magicians, and remains so today. It was rated as one of the "Ten basic books for a working library of conjuring".

Chapters include:

•CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

•CHAPTER II GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF SLEIGHT-OF-HAND APPLICABLE TO CARD TRICKS

•CHAPTER III CARD TRICKS WITH ORDINARY CARDS, AND NOT REQUIRING SLEIGHT-OF-HAND

•CHAPTER IV TRICKS INVOLVING SLEIGHT-OF-HAND, OR THE USE OF SPECIALLY PREPARED CARDS

•CHAPTER V CARD TRICKS REQUIRING SPECIAL APPARATUS

•CHAPTER VI PRINCIPLES OF sLEIGHT-OF-HAND MORE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO COIN TRICKS

•CHAPTER VII TRICKS WITH COIN WITHOUT APPARATUS

•CHAPTER VIII TRICKS WITH COIN REQUIRING SPECIAL APPARATUS

•CHAPTER IX TRICKS WITH WATCHES

•CHAPTER X TRICKS WITH RINGS

•CHAPTER XI TRICKS WITH HANDKERCHIEFS

•CHAPTER XII TRICKS WITH DOMINOES AND DICE

•CHAPTER XIII THE CUPS AND BALLS

•CHAPTER XIV BALL TRICKS REQUIRING SPECIAL APPARATUS.

•CHAPTER XV HAT TRICKS

•CHAPTER XVI MISCELLANEOUS TRICKS

•CHAPTER XVII STAGE TRICKS

•CHAPTER XVIII CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS

•APPENDIX

oCHAPTER I Introduction

oCHAPTER II KEMPELEN: Kempelen's Speaking Figure

oCHAPTER III THEODIN

oCHAPTER IV AUTOMATA: PSYCHO

oCHAPTER V MARIONETTES

oCHAPTER VI CLAIRVOYANCE

oCHAPTER VII SPIRITUALISM

oCHAPTER VIII PARLOR MAGIC