The Topit Book

Book
1983
Written by Michael Ammar
Work of Michael Ammar
119 pages (Hardcover), published by The Secret Service
Illustrated with drawings by Richard Kaufman
Language: English
66 entries
This publication has been reviewed by
Cover photograph
Creators Title Comments & References Page AA Categories
Dai Vernon Foreword
1
Michael Ammar Introduction
2
Topit Psychology and Construction
3
Michael Ammar The True Power of Topit
5
Michael Ammar When to use Topit
6
Michael Ammar Comfort Zones
7
Michael Ammar Time Misdirection
8
Michael Ammar Why Now for Topit
10
Michael Ammar Precautions in Using Topit
11
Michael Ammar Topit Styles
13
Michael Ammar, Fred Lowe The Open Topit construction with pocket retrieval, see also Jeff Busby review
 		16
Basic Topit Actions
21
Michael Ammar The Downward Toss as a vanish
 		23
Michael Ammar The Smash as a vanish
 		24
Michael Ammar, Bob Fitch The Direct Toss as a vanish
Related to
 25
Michael Ammar The Open Palm Direct Toss as a vanish
Related to
 26
Michael Ammar The Upward Toss as a vanish
 		27
Michael Ammar The Pinch pumpkin seed topit toss
 		28
Michael Ammar The Circle vanish choreography
 		29
Michael Ammar Minus One Toss tossing one of several coins in topit
 		30
Fred Kaps The Gesture topit toss during natural gesture
 		31
Michael Ammar, Patrick Page A Covering Motion with handkerchief
Inspired by
 32
Michael Ammar Back and Forth tossing object between hands while topiting another object
 		34
Michael Ammar Muscle Pass to Topit
36
Michael Ammar Keeping the Coat Open raising left arm
 		37
Michael Ammar Bracing the Coat
38
Moves
39
Michael Ammar The Appearing Coins empty coin box is suddenly filled with coins
 		41
Michael Ammar Vanishing Okito Box box vanishes, leaving behind coins and lid
 		42
Michael Ammar Four Signed Cards to Wallet No. 1
44
Michael Ammar Topit Packet Switch packet held, thrown in topit and switched for another packet from deck
 		44
Michael Ammar Four Signed Cards to Wallet No. 2 featuring topit throw of top few cards
 		46
Michael Ammar Handkerchief Deck Switch using Topit
Also published here
Variations
 47
Michael Ammar Cards into Case deck and case are tossed up and deck is suddenly back in case
 		49
Michael Ammar Ball and Silk Vanish ball wrapped in silk vanishes
 		51
Michael Ammar Topiting Fantasio vanishing candle under handkerchief with topit clean-up
  • Second Method
 		53
Michael Ammar Striking Vanish a la Topit direct topit throw
Inspired by
 54
Michael Ammar Vanishing Cigarette lit cigarette
 		56
Michael Ammar Smashing! deck thrown onto case, all cards penetrate except selection
 		57
Endings
59
Michael Ammar Smashing Coin Magic four coins change to jumbo coin which is smashed again into the four single coins
 		61
Michael Ammar Color Changing Silks ditching gimmick in topit
 		63
Michael Ammar Matrix Kicker clean final phase due to topit ditch
 		64
Michael Ammar Coins Across Ending visual travel across, ends clean due to topit ditch
 		67
Michael Ammar Kicks with Okito coin vanishes from closed Okito box, then lid changes into coin, then box into lid, box found in pocket
 		70
Michael Weber, Bob Fitch, Harry Levine
73
Michael Ammar Michael Weber
75
Michael Weber Weber's Topit Design to steal contents at jacket edge, nest of boxes loading idea mentioned
 		75
Michael Weber Silverwhere? spoon changes to fork
  • First Method
  • Second Method (transposition of fork and spoon)
 		76
Michael Weber A Deep Circle rubber banded deck, deck vanishes except banded selection
Inspired by
 78
Michael Weber Shelless glass vanish under napkin at end of Three Shell Game
 		79
Bob Fitch The Psychological Spheres ball vanishes with bouncing ball
  • Method One
  • Method Two
  • Method Three
Related to
 80
Harry Levine Impossible Transposition marked borrowed coin in performer's hand, spectator takes a coin from a bunch from performer's coat pocket, performer's coin vanishes and spectator's holds marked coin
 		83
Professional Applications
85
Michael Ammar The Vanishing Deck
87
Michael Ammar Crooked Deck deck becomes crooked
Inspired by
 89
Michael Ammar Almost Perfect Ring Flight
92
Michael Ammar The Electrostatic Coin flashes from coin, funken-ring
 		94
Michael Ammar Time Machine coins under cone from bill change into sea shell and back
 		95
Michael Ammar Coin in Bottle corked bottle
Also published here
Inspired by
 99
Michael Ammar Broken and Restored Watch borrowed watch broken, restores into performer's watch and spectator's watch is at performer's wrist
 		102
Michael Ammar Fabulous Four Coin Routine four coins from pure frame, then vanish, clean handling with topit
 		109
Pumpkin Seed Vanish squeeze sleeving
Also published here
Variations
 114
Michael Ammar Coin Through Hand
115
Michael Ammar Shuttle Pass
116
Michael Ammar Final Tips on Rehearsing Topit
117
Data entered by Denis Behr, April 2026.