$18.50
ESTATE Dust Jacket is in fragile condition. Book is in good condition.
Successful Magic for Amateurs (originally published as Successful Conjuring for Amateurs in 1951), written by professional stage magician and celebrated children's author Norman Hunter and edited by F.J. Camm, is considered a definitive, mid-century handbook for aspiring magicians.
The book's core philosophy is that entertaining magic relies less on flawless, knuckle-busting digital dexterity (sleight of hand) and more on showmanship, clever mechanics, psychological misdirection, and presentation.
Core Themes & Methodology
Instead of overwhelming beginners with complex finger manipulation, Hunter introduces a pragmatic, mechanical, and psychological approach to the craft:
The Power of "Patter": Drawing from his background as an advertising copywriter, Hunter emphasizes that what you say is just as important as what you do. Clear, engaging, or humorous scripting ("patter") creates context, establishes a narrative, and naturally misdirects the audience's attention at critical moments.
Mechanical & Gimmicked Secrets: The book focuses heavily on smart apparatus design, hidden compartments, and "gimmicks"—simple items modified to do the hard work for the magician secretly. This allows the performer to focus entirely on their audience connection rather than worrying about dropping a hidden object.
Camouflage and Hidden Loads: Hunter pulls back the curtain on how stage geometry, lighting, and everyday objects can be used to hide large items (like liquids or live animals) in plain sight right before they are produced.
Key Chapters & Areas of Study
The book is structured into practical categories of stage and parlor magic, offering a diverse repertoire for an amateur to build a complete act:
1. Fundamentals & Forcing Techniques
Hunter introduces the psychology of forcing—making a spectator believe they have made a completely free choice (like selecting a specific card or number) when the outcome was entirely pre-determined by the magician.
2. Card and Coin Manipulation
While avoiding overly complex sleights, he teaches fundamental principles of card conjuring using basic card boxes, special decks, and simple coin production methods. The focus is on clean execution rather than speed.
3. Everyday Objects & Table Magic
A significant portion of the book focuses on impromptu or parlor magic using common household goods. This includes:
Liquids & Goblets: The mechanics of making water or wine vanish or transform.
Billiard Balls & Bottles: Classic routines like the Passe Passe Bottles (where a bottle and a glass mysteriously swap places under covers multiple times).
Hats & Clothes: Traditional methods for pulling a variety of unexpected "loads" out of a borrowed, seemingly empty top hat.
4. Sensational Stage Illusions
For amateurs looking to scale up their performances, Hunter covers the foundational secrets behind grand, dramatic illusions. He explains the basic mechanics of safe stage stunts, including the theory behind bullet catching, sawing a person in half, and sword cabinets.