Robert-Houdin, Jean Eugene & AJL Hoffmann (translator): The Secrets Of Conjuring & Magic, or How To Become A Wizard ©1878 George Routledge and Sons Limited Hardcover, 5x7.5", 373 pages

Image courtesy Bryan-Keith Taylor

Comments:Translated into English by Professor Hoffmann.

Contents: (page numbers updated Jan 2018 to original book):

v Editor's Preface
vii Author's Preface And Dedication
1 The Home Of Robert-Houdin
19 Introduction
21 Conjuring And Its Professors
29 The Art Of Conjuring
32 General Principles
37 The Hand
42 Escamotage, Prestidigitation

45 Chapter I: Coin Magic
45 Coin Conjuring
46 I. The Palm Proper
51 II. The Tourniquet
54 III. The Pincette
55 IV. The Coulèe
57 V. The Italian Or "Thumb" Palm
59 VI. Disappearance By Means Of The Sleeve
59 VII. Disappearence By Means Of The Cravat
61 Changes - Modes Of Substitution Of One Coin For Another
62 I. The Change By Means Of The Palm Proper
62 II. The Change By Means Of The Coulée
63 III. The Change By Means Of A Tray
65 More General Principles
65 - The Wand
66 - The Table
68 - Pockets and Pochettes
72 - The Coat Sleeves
73 - Gestures - Formal Movements, Feints, and Temps
75 - The Eye
78 - The Boniment or Patter

89 Tricks With Coins
89 I. The Melting Coin
93 II. The Flying Coins
104 III. The Shower Of Money
110 IV. The Multiplication Of Money
117 V. Magical Filtration Of Five-Franc Pieces
121 VI. The Intelligent Coin
124 VII. The Two Hats
126 VIII. The Golden Coin In A Dinner-Roll

130 Chapter II: Card Tricks
130 Introduction

134 Various Sleights Employed In Card Tricks

134 Sleights Of General Use
134 I. To Make The Pass
139 II. To Make A False Shuffle
146 III. Forcing A Given Card
151 IV. To Change A Card
156 V. To Palm A Card
161 VI. To Replace A Palmed Card
163 VII. To Get Sight Of A Card

164 Special Sleights Used In Particular Card Tricks
164 I. The Card Thought Of
168 II. The Pass, Reversed
169 III. To Slide Back A Card
171 IV. The Wide Or Long Card
172 V. The Bridge
173 VI. Marked Cards
176 VII. Cards Arranged In A Given Order

178 Ornamental Sleights
178 I. To Make The Pass With One Hand
186 II. To Change A Card With One Hand
188 III. To Ruffle The Cards
190 IV. To Throw The Cards
193 V. To Spring The Cards From Hand To Hand
196 VI. The Cards Simultaneously Turned Over
198 VII. To Pick Up An Outspread Pack Of Cards
199 VIII. To Change One Pack For Another

202 Tricks With Cards
202 I. Clairvoyance By Touch
207 II. Mene, Tekel, Upharsin
211 III. The Cards Passing Up The Sleeve
216 IV. The Cards Made Larger And Smaller
221 V. The Ladies' Looking-Glass
227 VI. The Sympathetic Cards
231 VII. The Electrified Cards
238 VIII. The Power Of The Will
2410 IX. The Mesmerised Cards
245 X. The Metamorphoses
249 XI. A Magical Transformation
251 XII. The Card Thought Of
254 XIII. Thought Anticipated
256 XIV. The Thoughts Of Two Persons Anticipated
260 XV. The Four Aces
267 XVI. The Card In The Pocket-Book
269 XVII. Now!
272 XVIII. The Flying Aces And Kings
275 XIX. The Protean Pack Of Cards

279 Chapter III: Sundry Expedients And Tricks Of Various Descriptions
279 To Palm Corks, Lumps Of Sugar, And Other Objects Of Small Size
284 A Digestive Dessert—to Eat Corks
284 Sundry Methods Of Vanishing Articles Using A Table
284 Description Of The Table
285 To Vanish An Article In The Act Of Picking It Up
285 To Vanish An Article In The Act Of Throwing It Up Into The Air
286 To Vanish An Article In The Act Of Throwing
287 To Vanish An Article By Rolling It Away
287 Substitution Of One Article For Another By Means Of Second Method
288 To Vanish A Pack Of Cards
288 To Change A Pack Of Cards Into A Bird
289 To Introduce A Cannon-Ball Into A Hat

291 The Chinese Rings
294 The "Passes" With The Rings
295 Pass With Two Rings
295 Pass With Three Rings
296 Pass With Four Rings
298 Pass With Twelve Rings
298 Inextricable Chains

301 The Crystal Balls
301 Preliminary Preparations For The Trick
303 Pass I: The Production Of The Wand
304 Pass II: To Cause The Appearance Of A Crystal Ball
305 Pass III: To Divide A Crystal Ball Into Two Portions
306 Pass IV: To Produce A Little Ball From A Large One
307 Pass V: To Pass A Little Ball Into A Large One
308 Pass VI: To Make One Ball Pass Into The Other
309 Pass VII: To Stain A Crystal Ball Red
311 Pass VIII: To Get The Ball Out Of The Bottle Again
312 The Cannon-Ball Trick
315 The Vase For The Cannon-Ball

318 The Plumes And Shower Of Sweets
318 Preparation for the Plume Trick
321 The Shower Of Sweets

326 Chapter IV: the Cups And Balls
326 Introduction
327 Appliances And Accessories Necessary For The Performance Of The Trick
328 General Principles
329 I. To Conjure Away A Small Ball
330 II. To Produce A Small Ball
330 III. To Secretly Introduce A Small Ball Under A Cup
331 IV. To Pass A Small Ball Between Two Cups
331 V. To Cause The Disappearance Of A Small Ball Placed Between Two Cups
331 VI. To Cause The Appearance Of A Large Ball Under A Cup
332 Feints
335 Passes And Vocabulary
337 Burlesque Introductory Address
339 Working The Cups And Balls In The Old Style
339 Pass I
343 Conus' Method of Working the Cups and Balls
348 Bosco's Method (Bosco's Presentation Of The Cups And Balls)
351 Bosco's First Pass
351 Bosco's Second Pass
352 Bosco's Third Pass

354 Chapter V: Various Tricks
354 The Birth Of Flowers; Or, Magical Vegetation
362 The Miraculous Fishery; Or, The Bowls Of Gold Fish
368 Dr Lynn's Method
369 The Marvellous Equilibrium
373 Conclusion