Greater Magic

see also additional material from the 1994 edition
1938
Written by John Northern Hilliard
Work of Various
1,005 pages (Hardcover), published by Carl Waring Jones
Illustrated with drawings by Harlan Tarbell
Language: English
812 entries
This publication has been reviewed by
Cover photograph
250 per page
Creators Title Comments & References Page AA Categories
The Perfect Poker Trick Tens through aces are removed and dealt out multiple times, performer wins
 		303
William Larsen The Four Ace Deal thumb riffle stacking
 		305
A Maneuver for Stud Poker buckling bottom card glimpse
 		306
A Si Stebbins System Wrinkle dealing Royal Flush from Si Stebbins
Variations 307
Two Card Monte with the Torn Corner Added
307
John Scarne A Card Mouthful folded, while smoking
Also published here 308
One Hand Quarter Fold brief
Also published here 308
Lawrence "Larry" Grey Impromptu Method with Ordinary Cards "Lawrence Gray"
Variations 309
Placing Selection at Spelling Position spread or thumb count
 		310
T. Nelson Downs "The T. Nelson Downs Speller" three cards, stacked in three banks
 		311
Theodore Annemann Spell it Yourself duplicates
 		313
Commander Slayton Spelling a Card merely Thought Of: Commander Slayton's Method
Variations 315
John Northern Hilliard J.N. Hilliard's Method thought-of speller, ten-card set-up
 		317
Charles T. Jordan Spelling a Number of Cards after a Genuine Shuffle: Charles T. Jordan's Method two riffle shuffles, named suit is sorted out and all values spelled to
 		319
Jean Hugard A Card Fairy Tale and Automatic Spelling two riffle shuffles, suits are separated and used to tell story, match values, spell to values, ...
  • a. The Fairy Tale
  • b. Matching Cards
  • c. Automatic Spelling
  • d. Super-Spelling
 		320
The "Perfect" Spelling Trick four banks of duplicates with thirteen cards
 		323
John Northern Hilliard A Suggested Routine of Spelling Tricks routine suggestion of tricks described in spelling chapter
 		323
Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin With Unprepared Cards, Without Forcing card laid face down on table proves to be card mentally selected
 		325
Professor Hoffmann Table Edge Switch with Servante
326
Another Method card changes in any named card
 		326
A Palm Switch
326
Ralph W. Hull The Three of Clubs card on table turns out to be any card named, different switches
Related toVariations 327
Mexican Turnover
327
Arthur Leroy Breast Pocket Switch miscredited to Hal Leroy
Related to 328
Forcing the Mental Selection of a Card and Tricks Therewith by spreading, by riffling
Related to 329
Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin a. Effect thought-of card by one spectator is chosen by second spectator
 		330
b. Effect one to ten, thought-of card
 		331
Forcing the Mental Selection by Prearrangement only court card among number cards, two methods
 		333
Forcing a Corner-Shorted Court Card
333
Passing the Cards Before a Spectator
334
c. Effect stop trick with thought-of selection, two handlings
 		334
Forcing a Card by Springing the Cards forcing second card
 		335
Locating a Card After the Spectator's Cut
336
By Means of the Fan Spread
  • a. Raising a Neat Fan
  • b. Raising a Ragged Fan
  • c. Spreading on the Table
  • d. Displaying a Reverse Fan
Variations 336
With Prearranged Pack - a. Memorized Deck card reversed in deck turns out to be any named card, ungaffed, stacked deck
 		339
Side Slip Reverse basically Future Reverse
Related to 339
b. With Two Packs stacked decks, card cut to and turned over by spectator matches performer's card
 		340
Short Overhand Shuffle of Stack
340
Psychological Forces - Red or Black red is more often named than black...
 		340
The Seventh Position
341
The Second (and Third) Card forcing a card in a tabled row of five
 		341
One from Five one from five memorized card is chosen and located by touch
Related to 342
The Third Card from a packet of ten cards
 		342
Dai Vernon Vernon's Psychological Force Five Card Mental Force
 		343
Al Baker With Prepared Cards "Albaka", name of a red card is written on every black card in stacked deck
Related toVariations 343
Ralph W. Hull By Elimination OOSOOM forerunner, using a psychological fishing without asking questions
 		344
Audley Walsh The Magician's Dream four banks of twelve cards, fishing
Related to 346
Dai Vernon With Unprepared Cards. A Method by Mr. Dai Vernon spectator selects card in other room, subtle crimp
 		347
U. F. Grant U-Do-It Ace Trick spectator loses Aces and deals out four hands to find them again, no-touch by magician (telephone trick?)
VariationsAlso published here 349
Sam Leo Horowitz The Four Aces double backer
 		351
Stewart James The Four Aces a bit convoluted
VariationsAlso published here 355
William H. McCaffrey The Four Aces matrix layout
 		357
Jess Kelly The Four Aces
361
Dai Vernon Aces for Experts
363
The Short Card discussing Types of Short Cards, Cutting a Short Card
 		364
Theodore Annemann Annemann's Aces Aces change to Kings, reappear somewhere else and the Queens show up as well, begins like a regular Ace assembly
Variations 365
Method No. 1 cards freely chosen, no assistant, from glass
 		370
M. Laissus Method No. 2 cards freely chosen, no assistant, from glass
 		374
Method No. 3 cards freely chosen, no assistant, from glass
 		375
Method No. 4. The Book Houlette cards freely chosen, no assistant, from book
 		376
, Robert Heller Method No. 1. Packet of Duplicate Cards Concealed on the Table Duplicates of Forced Cards Rise, several variations and presentational ideas:
  • With an Assistant and without
  • By Fanning the Deck
  • Pip Change
  • Addressing the Queen
  • Card Rises Reversed then Turns Around
  • The Blank Card Gag
  • The Broomstick Rise (by Robert Heller)
  • With a Silk in the Glass
 		377
Method No. 2. Threaded Packet from Vest Pocket Duplicates of Forced Cards Rise, No Assistant
 		380
Method No. 3. With a Borrowed Pack Duplicates of Forced Cards Rise, No Assistant
 		381
Method No. 4. Card Rise Spontaneously from the Vest Pocket Duplicates of Forced Cards Rise, No Assistant
 		382
Method No. 5. Chosen Card Rises from Pack Held in the Hand Duplicates of Forced Cards Rise, No Assistant, hole through whole deck
 		382
Buatier de Kolta, Harry Stork Method No. 6. The All Rising Cards all cards jump out of class, card fountain, discussion of methods with details for some
  • Buatier DeKolta
  • Harry Stork
  • third method
 		383
Method No. 7. The Swinging Rising Cards Duplicates of Forced Cards Rise, No Assistant, houlette is attached at string and swings back and forth
 		385
Method No. 8. The Joker Rising Card Trick ABC cards rise that spell out JOKER
 		386
Method No. 9. The Celebrity Rising Card Trick ABC cards rise that spell out a chosen celebrity
 		386
Professor Alberti Method No. 1. The "Alberti" Method Hair and Wax Pellet
 		387
Adrian Plate Method No. 2. Adrian Plate's Method Hair and Wax Pellet
 		388
Method No. 3. Card Rising from Hand to Hand Hair and Wax Pellet, card floats through air to other hand
 		389
Method No. 4. From a Glass Hair and Wax Pellet, card floats through air from glass to hand
 		390
Method No. 5. Tube and Thread Hair and Wax Pellet, tube with thread in it (weight on one end) is hidden in clothing
 		391
Method No. 6. The Wand and Rising Card Hair and Wax Pellet, hollow wand with thread in it (weight on one end)
 		391
Method No. 1. Card Rise from the Pack Held in the Left Hand
392
Method No. 2. The Little Finger Rise
Related to 392
Sam Leo Horowitz Method No. 3. The Thumb Rise from fan
 		394
Method No. 4. A Comedy Rising Card not so deceptive, more a production
 		395
Method No. 5. The Fluted Glass hole in glass
 		396
Method No. 6. The Window Pack slit in whole deck
 		396
Method No. 7. Wand and Houlette ungaffed
 		396
Cardini Method No. 8. The Cardini Rise card jumps out of hat
 		397
Baffles Brush Method No. 9. Card Rising Through a Handkerchief ungaffed
 		397
Method No. 10. Card Rises from Card Case Tied to Performer's Hand
398
Jack McMillen Method No. 11. The "Plunger" Rising Cards with or without handkerchief, including an easier variation with wax
 		400
Special Cards one glued long card, handkerchief
 		402
With a Svengali Deck spectator pushed toothpick in side of deck and thus pushes out selection
 		403
Joseph Michael Hartz The Mechanical Pack brief description of solid deck with rubber wheels
 		403
Donald Holmes The Holmes Spindle little mechanism that's attached to rim of glass
 		404
The Card Case and Finger Tip case with slit, finger tip with needle
Related to 405
The Wand and Glass Houlette metall spring in wand that holds houlette
 		405
The "Lyre" Rising Cards trickling sand principle as mechanism, houlette
 		405
The Walking-Stick Rising Cards trickling sand principle as mechanism, houlette
 		406
Harlan Tarbell The "Sandu" Rising Cards trickling sand principle as mechanism, in glass on table
 		407
Val Evans The Tray and Houlette steel spring pushes up card
 		407
Henry Gordien The Gordien Rising Cards gramophone motor attached to table, thread
 		408
The Hand Houlette houlette and cards ungaffed, one gimmicked card
 		410
Howard Thurston The "Thurston" Rising Cards The Aerial Cards, floating across stage with named cards (assistant)
 		412
A Method for Parlor The Aerial Cards, floating card
 		413
A Second Method The Aerial Cards, floating card, no assistant
 		413
The Queen of the Air The Aerial Cards, card floating from one table to another
 		414
M. Guimard M. Guimard's Method fine wire loops at all cards
 		414
M. Ceillier M. Ceillier's Method card index
 		415
A.P. Neyhart The "Neyhart" Houlette fine mechanical solution
 		416
Robert Stull The Stull Rising Card Trick best for jumbo cards, electrical
 		423
Samuel C. Hooker Dr. Hooker's Impossiblities reprinted from "The Sphinx", description of performance
 		424
Dr. Jacob Daley The Card Windlass or Reel handling for the gaffed method (windlass or Thornton Reel), originally from "Art of Magic"
 		426
Burling Hull The Svengali Deck handling tips and getting into it from divided svengali deck
 		430
A Subtle Detection svengali deck, spectator finds his own card, ending clean
 		431
The Lady's Ring svengali deck, spectator finds his own card
 		432
The Spectator Makes a Prediction svengali deck, selection at any number by spectator
 		432
Al Baker A Prediction svengali deck dealt into two piles repeatedly until one card remains, with half-deck clean-up switch
Also published here 433
Al Saal The Perfect Stop Trick svengali deck, cards put from one hat to another hat one by one until spectator stops
Variations 435
Another "Stop" Trick svengali deck
 		436
A Blindfold Detection svengali deck, spectator deals cards and performer calls stop while blindfolded
 		437
Burling Hull The Mene Tekel Deck construction and handling
 		438
Chosen Card Passed Into Vest Pocket menetekel deck
 		439
Three Chosen Cards Discovered from Shuffled Pack in a Hat menetekel deck
 		439
Glenn G. Gravatt A Curious Coincidence two selections from two decks are put in a glass and match, menetekel deck & normal deck
Related to 440
David Devant The Triangle twenty-six double facers
Also published here 441
Paul Curry Infallible Prediction free selection is predicted written on other card, deck of double facers, double backer, "Touch"
Variations 442
Two Card Monte Move double facer and backer
 		443
U. F. Grant A Pocket Change card in performer's and spectator's pocket change place, double facer
 		444
Sam Leo Horowitz The Princess Trick with three cards, double facers
Related to 445
Ivory and Air Cushion Finish halves from different decks with different finishes, divided deck location
Related to 448
William H. McCaffrey Blindfold Multiple Detection blindfolded magician divines several cards, different finishes
 		449
Forcing Packs Three-Way Forcing Deck plus switch
 		450
Three-Way Svengali Forcing Deck
450
Dr. Ford Rogers Rogers' Ever Ready Forcing Pack short forcing cards glued on long indifferent cards
Related toVariations 451
Charles A. Leedy Cards Plus Jugglery card travels from long-short glued forcing deck to pocket
 		452
Strippers
  • How to Reverse a Stripper Deck
  • Half and Half Subtlety
  • Bringing the Reversed Card to the Top
 		453
A Novel X-Ray Trick top six cards are named after shuffling, stripper deck
 		456
Another Method top six cards are named after shuffling and deck is cased again
 		457
Professor Hoffmann A Triple Discovery three selections are located twice, stripper deck
 		457
Two Good Wrinkles: Reversing the Deck turning a one-way deck
 		459
Not Reversing the Deck one-way deck handling
Also published here 459
End Strippers
460
Bevelled Cards type of belly strippers
 		461
Poker Demonstration controlling the aces, belly strippers
 		461
Harry Blackstone Card and Number number named, that many cards are cut to and selection is at that position, belly stripper card
Variations 461
Impromptu Short Card broken corners
 		464
H. Adrian Smith It's in the Bag - Effect No. 1 really blindfolded, short card
 		464
H. Adrian Smith It's in the Bag - Effect No. 2 really blindfolded, short card
 		465
H. Adrian Smith Out of Hands Force spectator forces card to himself
 		465
H. Adrian Smith It's in the Bag - Effect No. 3 really blindfolded, short card
 		466
H. Adrian Smith It's in the Bag - Effect No. 4 spectator places reversed card between two selections, performer really blindfolded, short card
 		466
H. Adrian Smith It's in the Bag - Effect No. 5 really blindfolded, short card
 		467
Cardini A Bewildering Change card on table transposes with selection at known position from top, short card
Related to 468
Billy O'Connor Two Card Discovery card stabbed in deck by spectator next to two selections, short card
Variations 469
Torn Deck Discovery deck is torn in half, two half selected match and are previous selection, short card
 		471
Ne Plus Ultra. New Version with crystal ball four selections and their positions are named, short card and narrow card
 		471
John Snyder Mr. Snyder Makes a Prediction packet dealing and magician's choice procedure, short card
 		473
The Double Lift with a Short Card with ambitious card phase
 		475
Open One-Hand Top Change "Ultra Move"
Related to 475
Mickey MacDougall The Four Aces reappearance in poker deal
Variations 476
The Long Card impromptu long card with paper clip
 		477
Will De Sieve Two New Locator Cards - Coin Impression "Master Card Control", coin leaves circular impression
Related to 478
Jontay Another "Ridge" Preparation ridge along line on picture card
Related toVariations 479
Impromptu Markind of Cards - The Tooth Pick Method
479
Thumb Tack Marker Impromptu Markind of Cards
 		479
Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser Double Backed Cards some information followed by applications
 		480
The Self Reversing Cards ten cards are dealt face-up/face-down, five double backers
Related to 480
Dai Vernon, Sam Leo Horowitz, Arthur Finley The Ambitious Card with double backer
Related to 481
The Power of the Will spectator deals, double backer
 		484
The Five Cards Do As I Do - You Can't double backer
 		485
George G. Kaplan Cagliostro's Card. A Prediction 20$ are bet on the outcome, six duplicates, short card, double backer
Related toVariations 486
Divided Cards information and how to make them
 		489
Four Sevens and Four Deuces divided cards
 		489
Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin The Protean Pack of Cards full deck changes to duplicates of three selections, deck of divided cards, with deck switch
 		490
Fred Heaman A Visible Transformation Two of Clubs to Two of Spades
Variations 491
James Maxwell Prepared Carbon Card. A Mindreading Trick spectator thinks of card and writes it on piece of paper (carbon card)
 		492
Theodore Annemann Carbon Card Case
494
Paul Rosini The Daub. A Miracle Location daub transferred from performer's finger to bottom card of cut-off packet as it is replaced, button storage suggestion
Also published here 495
William H. McCaffrey "Think Stop" one way deck
 		496
To Make the Spectator Reverse the Card Himself one way deck
Related toAlso published here 497
Diachylon Thought Control named card has different back, rough smooth
 		497
John Northern Hilliard Card Tricks with Apparatus and in Combination with Other Objects some observations
 		499
Harry Blackstone Spirit Cartography selected card appears on initialed "photographic paper"
 		500
Cross Cut Force
500
The Card in the Frame applications for sand frame
 		501
The Knowing Dart several cards on huge stand, spectator throws dart and thus finds selection
 		503
Stand for the Vanish and Recovery of Four Cards wooden stand with servante, manipulation sequence
 		504
Perpendicular Hide-Out behind Fan
505
Joseph J. Kolar The Card and Ribbon Trick wrong card is attached to ribbon with a sticker and put in deck, when pulled out it is now selection
 		505
Harlan Tarbell The Card and Stamp Mystery stamp is glued partially onto wrong card and put in deck, when pulled out it is now selection
 		508
Nishan Andounian, Joe Berg The Enchanted Card Slide card transforms in slide (wallet-like prop with slits)
 		510
Al Baker "Cherchez La Femme." (Find the woman.) using stand with three cases with holes onto it
VariationsAlso published here 512
The Balloon and Card two presentations, with stand
 		513
Ralph W. Hull The Tuned Deck six phases, two corner shorts
Related to 517
Scallop Short
528
The Rough and Smooth Principle
530
Ralph W. Hull The Pop-Eyed Eye-Popper construction of deck followed by four applications
Related to 531
Ralph W. Hull The Force with Pop-Eyed Eye-Popper deck
 		531
Ralph W. Hull The Pop-Eyes Eye-Popper Trick with Pop-Eyed Eye-Popper deck
 		532
Ralph W. Hull "Knock 'em Off with a Stick" two cards, with Pop-Eyed Eye-Popper deck
 		532
Ralph W. Hull Skilled? Second Dealing with Pop-Eyed Eye-Popper deck
 		533
Ralph W. Hull The Magnetic Mental Control using two decks, spectator names odd-backed card, using red-blue backed rough-smooth deck
Also published here 533
John Northern Hilliard I. Theodore Annemann Card Stars of the U.S.A. intro
 		537
Theodore Annemann The Princess Trick
538
Theodore Annemann The Five Card Stabbing Mystery five selections, one-way
 		539
Al Baker Red-Black Detection method to set up during trick
Also published here 542
John Northern Hilliard II. Al Baker Card Stars of the U.S.A. intro
 		542
Al Baker Mysterious Divination spectators put packets in pocket, performer divines number of cards for each, stacked deck
Also published here 544
Cardini The Cardini Ace Trick Aces shuffled into pack (by performer) end up on bottom, featuring Cardini's Overhand Shuffle Multiple Shift
Related toVariations 545
John Northern Hilliard III. Cardini Card Stars of the U.S.A. intro
 		545
Cardini Cardini Method of Backhand Production of Cards singles
 		548
John Northern Hilliard IV. S. Leo. Horowitz Card Stars of the U.S.A. intro
 		548
Sam Leo Horowitz A Psychological Discovery two-pile-stop trick with Eight/Nine alternating set-up
Related toVariationsAlso published here 549
Sam Leo Horowitz The Magic Tunnel not perpendicular
 		552
Stewart Judah The Three Heap four heaps of cards on table, spectator choses one which is predicted
 		555
John Northern Hilliard V. Stewart Judah Card Stars of the U.S.A. intro
 		555
Stewart Judah The Guessing Game two cards from two decks are put in pockets by performer and spectator and divined by each other, or not (risky)
 		557
Psychological Flash Force card at face of deck is flashed to spectator in the hope that he'll later name it
Related to 559
John Northern Hilliard VI. Nate Leipzig Card Stars of the U.S.A. intro
 		559
Nate Leipzig Five Hands
Variations 560
Poker-Hand Switch tabled, bold
 		561
Nate Leipzig The Sympathetic Clubs double facers
Related to 562
John Northern Hilliard VII. William H. McCaffrey Card Stars of the U.S.A. intro
 		563
William H. McCaffrey The Prize Winner
Related toVariations 564
William H. McCaffrey The Telephone Trick assistant names card over telephone, see also "Fragment: Introduction for The Telephone Trick" on page 1150
Related toAlso published here 566
Paul Rosini Everywhere and Nowhere two duplicates
 		567
John Northern Hilliard VIII. Paul Rosini Card Stars of the U.S.A. intro
 		567
Paul Rosini A Great Location Trick subtle key card location
Related toVariationsAlso published here 570
John Scarne The Card in the Wallet
572
John Northern Hilliard IX. John Scarne Card Stars of the U.S.A. intro
Related to 572
John Scarne The Transposed Cards two cards in spectator's hands
 		575
John Northern Hilliard X. Dai Vernon Card Stars of the U.S.A. intro
 		575
Dai Vernon Do As I Do packs not exchanged, no key card
Variations 576
Dai Vernon Follow the Leader
578
Methods of Producing a Silk with Bare Hands: 1. No Gimmick
581
2. Small Metal Box in Downs Palm position
 		583
Eric F. Impey Eric F. Impey's Method with thread
 		583
A Novel Vanish of a Silk using spectator's lapel as servante
 		585
Sam Leo Horowitz The Best Handkerchief Gimmick: The Coin and the Handkerchief a tube
 		585
Sam Leo Horowitz The Silk Production using tube gimmick
 		588
Sam Leo Horowitz The Burning Table Cloth or Napkin using tube gimmick
 		590
Sam Leo Horowitz Color Changing a Silk using tube gimmick
 		591
A Study in Red and Green silk appears, vanishes, changes color
 		592
A Novel Production of Silks several silks, with Stilwell Hank Ball
 		595
Al Saal Silks and Matches silk and matches in match box transpose
 		596
Harlan Tarbell "Clean-Cut" Color Changing Silk gimmick on loop
 		597
Think-a-Card Ruse bottom card flashed to spectator, hoping that he later thinks of it
 		599
Charles Waller A Visible Penetration silk through silk with glass
Also published here 600
"Flash" Production of Silks paper cone
 		603
The Silk Wonder Box
604
Nelson Hahne The Penetrating Silk silk produced, penetrates borrowed handkerchief, vanishes
 		606
C.L. Jacobsen Another Silk Penetration no other props
 		608
David Devant Dyeing the Silks credit information
 		608
Al Baker Al Baker's Dyeing Silks dye tube
 		609
250 per page
Data entered by Denis Behr, May 2009.