Teale, Oscar S.: Higher Magic ©1920 Oscar S. Teale, Adams Press Print, NY Hardcover, no dj, 497 pages plus ads

Image courtesy eBay seller Swerdnase2003

Comments: Illustrations by the Author. Oscar S. Teale was a past president of the Society of American Magicians. Almost 500 pages! Covers the theory and advice on performing magic, some magic history, ideas & tips for common tricks, some full act descriptions, and some original effects.

Contents (from book):

11 The Cover Design: Hermes the Patron God of the Arts and Crafts Mysterious

17 First Stage - Literary
17 This Book - The Author's Salaam: introduction
25 Other Books:
26 - J.N. Ponsin (: La Sorcellerie Ancienne et Moderne Expliquee 1858
26 - Robert-Houdin: Les Secrets de la Prestidigitation et de la Magique 1868
26 - Professor Hoffman (Angelo Lewis): Modern Magic 1876
28 - Edwin Sachs: Sleight of Hand 1877
29 - Henry Hatton (P.H. Cannon): Our Young Folks series 1865
29 - The Society of American Magicians

31 Second Stage: Retrospection
33 The Story of Magic
42 Virgil the Sorcerer
53 Miracles
64 Mental Magic
69 Societies of Magicians
72 Analogy
74 The Magicians of To-Day

79 Third Stage: Evolution- A Series of Arguments - from Chaos to Art
81 Higher Magic
81 Psychological
101 Philosophical
117 Science in Magic
123 Art in Magic
133 Aesthetic Magic
143 Technique
153 Chiaroscuro
169 Comedy In Magic
191 The Aesthetic Stage - The Stage of Magic

221 Fourth Stage: Dramatis Personae
223 The Man - Stage Deportment

253 Fifth Stage: The Dressing Room
253 Personal Equipment

267 Sixth Stage
267 Practice- The Actual Work

279 Seventh Stage - Problems
279 Minor Problems
280 A Simple Die Effect
283 Comedy in Magic

284 Eighth Stage - Major Problems
286 A Spiritualistic Séance - Humorously Compiled: as performed by the author
293 The Foolish Boy: A comedy act introducing the Clay Pipes, Water and Wine, The Siee, Ping Pong Ball Variation, the Impossible Knot, etc.
298 The Open Servante: U shaped
300 Frikell's Cups: production of lots of cups from a hat
303 Hat Loading by Harts
304 Robert Heller's Bouquet Production
309 Other Little Things: Original Suggestions, amplifications, and variations
310 - Afghan Bands: some tips on improving
312 - Yank Ho's Razor Effect - Improved: paper tear suggestions
314 - Paper Coil Servante: idea
316 The Ring on the Tape: a bracelet sized ring end up on a rope
321 The Drawing Pencil and Cards: a mechanical pencil to grab a selection out of the deck
323 Production Wand: for silk production
325 The Knotted Silks - Our Flag Is There
327 To Produce Three or More Silks One at a Time in Open Hand
329 The Phantom Fluids - Author's Arrangement: glass of water vanish
332 The Fallacious Coins - Author's Arrangement: idea for the Cap & Pence or Stack of Coins effect
335 An Accidental Effect: a defect in a Crystal Casket makes for a trick idea with a silk
338 A Simple Vanishing Tube - Original: a compression vanish for silks
340 An Unsuspected Accessory: a chair modified to dispose of liquids
342 The Ten Cards - Original Amplification: performer can determine how many cards are shifted; for stage
352 Cards Produced by Pistol Shot - From Author's Program
355 The Card in Frame by Pistol Shot: with special houlette
358 The Card Case - Original Improvement: switching case made better
360 - Variation With Mechanical Cards
361 - Another Model
364 Wing Shot: a card selection is shot with a dart, pinning it to a board
368 The Wing Shot - Robert Heller's Method
375 The Sure Shot - From the Author's Program
379 A Continuity (Professor A.W. Waring): silk, egg, tumbler routine
390 A Continuity for Parlor or Club - As Performed by the Author: starting with various productions from a borrowed hat
395 Divining By Fire - Original Combination: mathematical addition divination and more
411 The Adventures of a Wedding Ring: borrowed ring vanishes and is found in flowers
418 A Piscaorial Paradox - Fishing Extraordinary: using a Gold-Fish vase
423 Mysterious Distillation: ideas on the bran & liquid trick with cups
425 - Another Way
430 Mephistopheles Oven - Original: eggs, etc, put in a borrowed hat produce a cake

443 Ninth Stage - Personal
443 The Author - How he became a Magician - Autobiography

495 The Program