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Original Tricks is a classic close-up and parlor magic text written by the prolific Anglo-Indian magician Eddie Joseph, featuring performance commentary and structured sequencing by Percy Abbott (founder of the legendary Abbott's Magic Novelty Company).
Originally published in 1940 (and often distributed as a catalog supplement), this work bridges old-school sleight of hand with highly practical psychological presentation.
📋 Core Summary of the Book
The book serves as a masterclass in clean, deceptive routining. Eddie Joseph was famous for creating magic that didn't rely on overly complex, finger-flinging mechanics, but rather on clever misdirection, natural hand movements, and subtle subtleties.
The text is broken down into standalone effects using everyday objects—cards, coins, liquids, and simple props—culminating in a master routine section designed by Percy Abbott to maximize the theatrical impact of the tricks.
Key Effects Detailed in the Text
Mystic Recital: An opening mentalism or card effect designed to instantly grab attention and establish the magician’s authority.
Everywhere Yet Nowhere: Joseph's take on a classic plot where a chosen card seems to appear in multiple places simultaneously, baffling spectators who think they have caught the method.
The Damsel Escapes: A narrative-driven escape illusion scaled down to close-up or parlor proportions.
Evaporation & Liquid Milk: Highly visual close-up utility work involving liquids appearing, disappearing, or cleanly changing states without bulky stage props.
Perpetual Coins: A seamless "coins across" or continuous production sequence emphasizing smooth, unhurried sleight of hand.
The Spirit Crochet & The E. Jay Book Test: Mentalism routines that use ordinary-looking items to simulate genuine telepathy or spirit intervention.
Drunk or Sober: A whimsical, character-driven routine perfect for close-up performance, relying heavily on a plot that shifts under the spectator's nose.
🎭 Percy Abbott’s Suggested Routines
What separates this book from a simple list of trick explanations is Percy Abbott’s contribution. Abbott recognized that a collection of great tricks can easily fall flat if a performer just does them back-to-back without a cohesive flow.
Abbott’s section acts as a director’s commentary, offering explicit frameworks on how to stitch Joseph’s standalone routines together:
Pacing and Continuity: He outlines how to transition cleanly from a high-energy coin trick like Perpetual Coins into a more cerebral piece like the E. Jay Book Test without losing the audience's attention.
The "One Ahead" Setup: Abbott maps out how the clean-up phase of one trick can silently serve as the secret setup for the next, leaving the performer "always ahead" of the audience.
Climax Structuring: He emphasizes saving the most impossible-looking visual effects (such as the liquid changes) for the finale, ensuring the act ends on a definitive, unexplainable high note.