Sterling, Max: Problems in Mystery for Practical Magicians ©1909 Max Sterling, Manchester, England Softcover, saddle-stitched, 5.5x8.5", 47 pages plus ads

Image courtesy PrincetonAntiques.com

Comments: Illustrated by Max Sterling

Contents (from book):

5 Forewords (Max Sterling)

7 Problems in Silk and Wax: a 15-20 minute act with handkerchiefs and candles
9 - Working Instructions
12 Bewitched - The Animated Inanimate: a Jumping Jack toy animates and more, on stage
14 - Working Instructions
18 The Protean Aquarium, Fishing the Black Sea: fish are magically fished for and appear in an aquarium
21 The New Trunk Effect: an Escape
24 The Unity of Nations: dancing cane and multiple items produced, for stage
30 Building up of the Union Jack: silks form into a Flag on an Easel
33 Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds: bird production
35 The Man with a Mystic Shadow: stage illusion
39 New Vanish for Glass of Water: full glass of water vanished under a handkerchief

41 Original Twists on Card Manipulation
41 Card Swallowing Effect: card swallowed and restored
42 New Rising Envelope and Card: card vanishes and rises from an envelope on stage
43 Escape from a Sealed Pack: selected cards vanish from pack to appear at the fingertips, using palming
44 The Wandering Aces: Four card change to four Aces, previously placed in the deck
45 Production of Any Card Called For: almost any card
45 To Secure a Card: using a bridge as a control
46 New Recovery of Selected Card: all cards fly from deck until only one left, the selection
46 The Jack as “L’Enfant Terrible” (F.W. Conradi): using three Jacks, the audience only aware of one
48 Ad: Harry Whitely Manchester School of Magic
49 Ad: Will Goldston's Magician Annual 1909-1910
50 Ad: A.W. Gamage Ltd, London supplier
51 Ad: The Sphinx magazine
52 Ad: Ornum's, London - Magic by Mail
53 Ad: Conradi Horster, Akademie fur Magische Kunst
54 Ads: Staynon'd Magic; A. Margery Dealer, London; Heriot Dealer, Oldham