Reference Guide to The Magic Egg Bag (Books, Videos, Products)

Please sent any missing references to: magicref (at) lycos.com. Thanks to Lawrence O over at TheMagicCafe for some additional references!

Dec 2022: Denny Haney/Scott Alexander Malini Egg Bag; Denny's Workshop - the Egg Bag video;
April 2022: Cody Fisher's Comedy Egg Bag set.
June 2021: Trevor Lewis & Phil Willmarth Routines Matter book; Bill West Routines in Rhyme book; Luis de Matos The Egg Bag DVD w/bag; Scott Alexander Denny Haney Out of the Box DVD set; and Denny Haney Collected Wisdom book; Alexander Scott Standing Up on Stage V3 DVD; Paul Lelekis The Art of Magical Entertainment eBook/Video; 

The following is a partial list of books, videos/DVDs, and products relating to Egg Bags. Please note that the prices are estimates are not current. None of these items are for sale from this website, and some are likely no longer available. Please realize that this is not an exhaustive coverage of every Egg Bag reference, and you are encouraged to e-mail me with any additions.

Egg Bag Types:  There are essentially two types of egg bags, and many variations on these.

The Malini Egg Bag is made of lightweight silken material, usually in black, and uses a lightweight egg.

The Tarbell/Sterling/Albini/Mardo bags are usually made of a heavier material, such as felt, and use a heavy egg.

Books: (click on a highlighted title to view table of contents)

Abbott, Percy: A Lifetime in Magic. 2002, 188 pages. The reprint of Abbott's Magic for Magicians included in this book includes An Egg Bag Move: spectator stomps on bag to show it empty

Abbott, Percy: Magic for Magicians. 1934, 64 pages. Includes An Egg Bag Move: spectator stomps on bag to show it empty

Abbott, Percy: Abbott's Practical Patter. 1935, 18 pages. Includes patter for an Egg Bag trick

Albertus: Entertaining, Conjuring, Hypnotism, Muscle and Mind Reading. 1900c, 188 pages. Includes The Egg Bag Trick

Alexander, Scott: Denny Haney Collected Wisdom. 512 page book. Part 2, Standing Up on Stage, includes section on The Egg Bag. See also the DVD series.

Anderson, A.: How to Do Sleight of Hand. 1898, 64 pages. Includes the old style The Egg and Bag Trick: seven eggs produced from a bag, and finally a hen - more of a production trick.

Anderson, Gene: Toppers Mad Mad Magic. 1974, 54 pages. Includes a comedy routine for egg bag

Ayling, Will: Knowing the Egg Bag. 1988, 34 pages. Excellent all around coverage of the Egg Bag and variants. Includes information and routines.

Ayling, Will: Oriental Conjuring and Magic. 1981 Supreme Magic. 384 pages. A lot of oriental magic including The Egg Bag

Bagshawe, Edward: Proudlock's Egg Bag & Four Ace Presentation. 1936, 27 pagesTwo classic routines with illustrations and full patter

Bauer, Ron: Siamese Goose Egg Bag. #15 in Ron's Private Study Series. Comedy script in which the magician can produce an authentic Goose Egg, but not in the way he intended. For use with a Miller/Malini egg, blown egg, and a small lock box with a key on a long chain (you supply).

Behnke, Leo: Library of Magic #13: Egg Bag. 1991. 28 pages, paper. Decent high level coverage in a small book.

Bertram, Ross: Magic and Methods. 1978 Lee Jacob's Productions.163 pages, hardbound. Tons of Ross Bertram magic. Chapter 5 includes The Egg Bag using the Tarbell style bag.

Biro, Pete: Eggs, Bags & Gags. This volume contains bits, moves, gags and complete routines, including that of vaudevillian Judson Cole and the actual routine devised by Senor Mardo for the popular Mardo Egg Bag, which was taught to Pete by Mardo himself in the 1950s.

Brahams, Anthony (Editor): Ken Brook's Magic Place. 1995 L&L Publishing, 302 pages. A great remembrance book, full of instruction sheets for many of Ken's procucts. Includes a section on the Malini Egg Bag.

Brooke, Ken et al: Ken Brooke and Friends on the Malini Egg Bag. 1974 Magic Inc., 21 pages. A lengthy treatise on the Malini Egg Bag with lots of detail and bits of business. Recommended for owners of the Malini style bag.

Brooke, Ken: Ken Brooke Unique Years. Supreme Magic, 1980. Hardbound. 222 pages. Covers the magic of Ken Brooke with chapters on Wisdom & Advice, Egg Bag, etc. 

Busby, Jeff: Routines and Handling for the Sterling Egg Bag, with Chuck Smith's Routine. Comb bound, 8.5x11".

Colucci, Donato: Encyclopedia of Egg Magic. Covers Natural Eggs, Imitation Eggs, Fekes & Gimmicks, Productions, Vanishes, Balancing Feats, The Egg Bag, Transpositions, Animations, Transformations, Miscellaneous Effects and Routines. 319 large pages containing more than 270 tricks and routines gathered from hundreds of sources. Over 490 illustrations by J.K. Schmidt. Hardbound.

Darbyshire, Lydia: The Magic Book. 1997, 224 pages. A nice large format introductory magic book. There are a few pages on the egg bag routine.

DeLawrence, George: Some Card Effects and Magical Talks. 1919, 47 pages. Includes an egg bag routine using a real egg and a celluloid egg.

Edmundson, Gerald: The Ostrich Factor. 2004, 83 pages. A practice Guide for Magicians. Uses an Egg Bag routine as the running example.

Elliot, Bruce: Classic Secrets of Magic. 266pp. Great instruction. Includes chapters on Egg Bag and more.

Ganson, Lewis: The Art of Close Up Magic Vol 2. 1996 L&L Pub, 286 pages. Includes The Egg Bag, which provides construction information on the bag, moves, and a full routine with a suggestion for producing multiple eggs from the bag.

Ganson, Lewis: Routined Manipulation Parts 1 & 2. 1976 D. Robbins (orig 1950), 251 pages.Egg Bag routine uses two bags and a silk, but the ideas can certainly be adapted.

Gerrish, Jim and the Wiz Kids, Inc.: The Ungimmicked Egg Bag Routine. eBook. More than just an egg bag routine but provides handling for use of an ungimmicked bag. From MagicNook.com.

Goldston, Will: Magician Annual 1910-1911. 1911, 106 pages. Includes The W.G. Egg Bag for producing multiple eggs and a live chick climax. The magic is in the egg holdouts, not the bag.

Goldston, Will: Simple Conjuring Tricks That Anyone Can Perform. 1913, 124 pages. Includes a basic Egg Bag routine, not very involved.

Goldston, Will: Tricks & Illusions. 1908, over 250 pages. Book contains three sections: Tricks, Escapes, and Illusions. The Tricks section contains one page on The Chinese Egg Bag.

Goldston, Will: Tricks of the Masters. 1942, 208 pages. The chapter on Arnold De Biere includes some information on his Egg Bag handling but not a full routine.

Haversat, David: Chanin, the Man With the Magic Hands. 1878 Press Company, Hardbound, 430 pages, 2002. Includes the life story of Jack Chanin, and reprints of the magic pamphlets that he created through the years. Includes: Mesh Egg Bag (invented by Chanin), and more.

Hay, Henry: Amateur Magician's Handbook. 1950 (orig), 382 pages. Includes a brief introduction to the Egg Bag, its construction, and basic routine. Further enhancements are referred to Hay's Learn Magic or Hugard's Modern Magic Manual.

Hay, Henry: Learn Magic. 1947, various formats, 281 pages. Good introductory information on the egg bag. Includes a "standard" routine and an egg production routine.

Hilliar, William John: Modern Magician's Handbook. 1902. Chapter XII Ball Tricks Requiring Special Apparatus; The Chinese Rings, The Famous Egg and Bag Trick, and more.

Hoffmann, Professor: Modern Magic. Published in 1877 with over 500 pages, this classic of magic contains chapters on the Cups and Balls, Hat Magic, many more. The section on Miscellaneous Tricks includes The Egg Bag. This article described briefly the "Japanese" style egg bag, which is like our modern versions, and the large, 20" wide egg bag more common (apparently) in the 1800's. Includes some general routining ideas.

Holmes, Donald: The Magic Art. 1920, 234 pages. Includes Christopher's Egg and Bag Trick.

Hugard, Jean: Modern Magic Manual. 1957, 166 pages. Includes Egg Bag as performed by De Biere.

Joseph, Eddie: Magic and Mysteries of India. Published around 1940, this 75 page book on Indian Magic. Includes a Hindu Presentation of the Egg Bag.

Kleinman, Benjamin & Tan Bah Chee: Best of Magic Around the World. 1975, 137 pages. Includes Tah Bah Chee's My Routine For The Comedy Egg Bag, and William Tatton's Egg Bag Plus.

Lelekis, Paul A.: The Art of Magical Entertainment. Mixed Media Download, eBook w/Video. Includes Dan Tong's Egg Bag routine, inluding some Egg Bag History, and the video is the Dan Tong routine.

Lewis, Eric: Personal Magic Volume 1. MagiKraft. Eric Lewis' Personal Notebooks now archived in CD Form (over 300 pages). Contains tons of notes and magic. Includes an Egg Bag Routine by Proudlock.

Lewis, Trevor: Close Up Lecture Notes. 24 pages, paper. Covers 18 effects including Malini Egg Bag w, Golf Sponge Ball routine.

Lewis, Trevor: Final Party Pieces. 1999, 48 pages. Includes Fez Egg Bag routine. 

Lewis, Trevor: Further Party Pieces. 1987, 52 pages. Includes Sunday Egg, Trevor's Malini Egg Bag presentation.

Lewis, Trevor & Phil Willmarth: Routines Matter. 2009, 192 pages, hardcover. Includes Trevor Lewis' Commercial Egg Bag routine.

Lewis, Trevor: Uncut The Complete Party Pieces. 270 Pages. Trevor's professional children's magic developed over 20 years. Includes Fez Egg Bag, and many more.

Mardo, Senor: Routined Magic. 1945 Max Holden. 29pg. Includes: Marlo's Egg Bag Routine using a Sterling Bag

Marshall, Frances: Kidstuff Volume 5. Magic Inc. Over 500 pages. Includes Egg Bag and Lota Routine, and Condensed Chicken, which is a combo Chalk Talk and Egg Bag routine using a Chicken Egg Bag.

Meyer, Orville Wayne: Magic in the Modern Manner. 1949, 184 pages. The chapter on Children's Specials includes treatment of the Egg Bag.

Miller, Charlie: Malini Egg Bag Routine. From Magic Inc.

Minch, Stephen & Adam Fleischer: The New York Magic Symposium Collection Volume Three. 1984, 135 pages. Includes magic by Bro. John Hamman, David Roth, Jeff McBride, and much more. Includes an Egg Bag Finale glass and beer production by Tom Mullica.

Mishell, Ed: Hold Out Miracles. 1969, 64 pages. (Note, not all effects require use of holdout) Attaching the holdout, devices, Jack Miller's Egg Bag Routine, and more.

Mullica, Tommy & Richard Kaufman (editor): It's Show Time at the Tom Foolery. Features comedy egg bag routine.

Mullica, Tom: Lecture Booklet Hawaii '83. 24 pages. Contains great Endings for The Egg Bag, and more

Novak, John: The Egg Bag Book. Covers history, the types, and the performers. Includes routines, lines, moves, handling and so forth. $19.95

Parrish, Robert: New Ways to Mysify. 1945, 124 pages. Thirty tricks that can be performed without elaborate equipment or difficult skill. Includes The Egg Bag.

Racherbaumer, Jon: Arcade Dreams, Marlo without cards. Includes Egg Bagatelle egg bag routine. Hardbound. 100 pages.

Riser, Harry: Secrets of an Escamoteur. 2006, 245 pages. Includes: The Malini-Miller Egg Bag and Harry's Routine.

Selbit: The Magic Art of Entertaining. 1907. 105 pages. Includes The Egg Bag Trick: general routine outlined with patter; and The Life History of an Egg, useful patter for any egg trick

Scarne, John: Scarne's Magic Tricks. 1951, 256 pages. Lots of beginner magic with several gems hidden in the pages. Includes The Magic Bag - how to make an Egg Bag with a basic routine.

Sisti, Jim: The Magic Menu - The First Five Years. 1998 L&L Publishing. Compilation of Sisti's The Magic Menu magazine produced for restaurant and strolling magicians. Includes Walk Around Malini Egg Bag by Dan Tong (with an optional glass of liquid production)

Spill, Steve: The Spill Bar and Grill. 1980, 80 pages. Includes Egg Bag Ala Sheets (Bob Sheets).

Stodare, Colonel: Hand-Book of Magic, or Conjuring Made Easy. 1862. Includes a general description of the older bag used to produce eggs and finally a Hen.

Tarbell, Harlan and Steve Burton: Tarbell Companion. Volume 8 was based on this work. Includes Egg Bag, Suggested show Routines, and more.

Tarbell, Harlan, Course in Magic Volume 2. 1927, 416 pages. Includes Tarbell Egg Bag; The egg bag section is an excellent introduction. $25

Tarbell, Harlan: Course In Magic Volume 5. 1927, 417 pages. Lesson 60 includes discussion of Malini Egg Bag as opposed to the Albini bag and provides some ideas, but not a full routine. Lesson 68 includes Bamberg's Egg Bag, which was a large Scotch egg bag to produce 15 eggs and a chicken!

Thompson, J.G.: My Best. 1945, 384 pages. Includes two egg bag routines: One is Patter in poem form by Lucille Saxon, the other is the Tommy Windsor Egg Bag routine fully detailed.

Vernon, Dai & Lewis Ganson (Editor): Malini and His Magic. 1962, 107 pages. Includes description of Malini's Egg Bag performance, with details in Part Two of the book.

West, Bill: Routines in Rhyme. 1957, softcover, Supreme Magic. Includes rhyming routines for 6 Egg Bag presentations - Snappy Egg Bag Routine; Baking a Cake; Christmas Pantomime; Egg Collecting; Old Farmer Giles; and Buying Eggs

Windsor, Tommy: The Tommy Windsor Egg Bag Routine. A Lee Jacobs Production.

Yaffe, Malcolm: Paths to Enchantment. Hermetic Press, hardbound, 255 pages.. How to improve your children's magic. Presents a blueprint for how to present high quality magic for children. Also includes many examples of these principles put to work, including The Egg Bag

Magazine References

Braue, Fred: Blair Gilbert's Egg Bag Secret. B.L. Gilbert's method to show inside and outside of the Egg Bag. Hugard's Magic Monthly, Vol. XVIII, No. 12.

Christopher, Milbourne: Phone in Bag. Idea for producing a rubber phone as an Egg Bag Climax. Hugard's Magic Monthly, Vol. XVIII, No. 1, June 1960.

Christopher, Milbourne: Tracing the Egg Bag. An early history of the Egg Bag. MUM July 1991

Davidson, Robert T.H.: How to Construct a Malini Egg Bag. Magicana Column in Genii No. 117, December 1974.

Jamison, R.M.: An Egg-Bag Trick. Using Gwynne's box idea (from the March Sphinx) to introduce the eggs. The Sphinx, Vol. XXXIV No. 10, Dec 1935.

Shaw, Harry G.: Malini's Egg Bag Trick. General outline of Malini's routine, no details. Hugard's Magic Monthly, Vol XVIII, No. 10, June 1961

Stanyon, Ellis: The Egg Bag. Full routine with patter. Published in Stanyon's Magic, Vol X, No. 6, March 1910.

Video/DVDs

Alexander, Scott: Denny Haney Out of the Box. DVD set. Set of four DVDs on the life, legacy and magic of Denny Haney. Includes performance of Denny's Egg Bag routine.

Alexander, Scott: Standing Up On Stage V3 Feature Acts. DVD. Third of 5 DVDs in the series. Includes Malini Egg Bag in full detail.

Carney, John: Up Close & Far Away. Performance only with Egg Bag, and more.

Cellini: Magic That Can be Performed Anywhere DVD. Includes Joe Karson's Chinese Egg Bag

DeMatos, Luis: The Egg Bag; DVD, including a Malini Style Egg Bag. 1 Hour, 4 mintutes. Includes a live chick finale.

DeSouza, Marc: Master Works of Conjuring, Volume 4. Fully routined and scripted presentations. Volume 4 is The History of Magic Through Performance, and includes full explanation the Egg Bag and more.

Dobson, Wayne: Dobson's Choice - TV Stuff #2 DVD, 1 hour. Another compilation of TV clips from Wayne's hit TV series 'A Kind of Magic'. Includes the Egg Bag performance.

Fedko, John: School of Magic V1, Classics of Magic including the Chinese Egg Bag

Thomas, Garrett: In the Mind of Garrett Thomas Volume 3. DVD. Includes Ball in Bag, where a heavy steel ball appears in a small black bag and vanishes again.

Geer, Brian: Heavy Hitters DVD. Over two hours of magic including an egg bag routine featuring a production of a full glass of water completely surrounded.

Ginn, David: Live Kidbiz (with book). Live performance video and book. Includes Red Plaid Egg Bag.

Greenberg, Ace: Jack Miller's Hold Out Miracles DVD. Meir Yedid Magic. Alan Greenberg teaches his rendition of several of Jack Miller's routines using the Hold Out. Include The Jack Miller Egg Bag Routine, how to improvise a hold out. Also includes archival footage of Jack Miller including his Egg Bag routine.

Haney, Denny: Denny and Lee Performance Video. 55 minute DVD. Live performance at the Wells Theater in Norfolk, Virginia during the mid-nineties. Features performance only of: Denny's Malini Egg Bag and more.

Haney Denny: Workshop - the Egg Bag. Downloadable video by Scott Alexander. Hour long in-depth session as Denny personally teaches you his version of the Malini Egg Bag with all of his own tips, hints and subtleties and hosted by Scott Alexander. 

Harlan, Dan: Pack Small, Play Big - The All Purpose Show (DVD). L&L Publishing. Includes Tee Bag, an egg bag - production routine

Hobson, Jeff: Jeff Hobson Live! A-1 Multimedia. Performance only of Egg Bag routine.

Hobson, Jeff: The Hobson Egg Bag: This is the complete package with Jeff's Egg Bag, 2 specially designed eggs, and an instructional DVD. This is Jeff's variation of the Malini Bag style, with the lining of a different color than the outside of the bag.  (listed also in products section below). Jeff Hobson's Egg Bag.

Lewis, Martin: Senor Martin Egg Bag DVD. In this video, Martin Lewis explains his affinity for the Senor Mardo Egg Bag (as opposed to the Malini style) and several uses for this great piece of magic.  Magikraft.com

Lewis, Trevor: The Magic of Trevor Lewis DVD. Lecture, taped live at Mark Leveridge’s 3rd British Close-Up Magic Symposium. Includes Trevor's Egg Bag Routine (Malini)

McComb, Billy: Greater Magic V30. Includes William's Whiskey Egg Bag

Miller, Charlie: Greater Magic V18. Malini Egg Bag (Performance only)

Miller, Charlie and Johnny Thompson: Greater Magic V29: Includes Chinese Cups Egg Bag Segment w/Charlie Miller Routine

Mullica, Tommy: Greater Magic V19: Includes Egg Bag

Palmer, Johnny Ace: Trilogy of Magic 2 DVD Set. Includes The Egg Bag (fast paced for table hopping)

Quick Tricks Series: The Egg Bag. 

Smith, Samuel Patrick: The Magic Ingredient: Funny Magic to Make You a Kid-Show Celebrity. VHS Video. 1995; 60 minutes. SPS Publications. Contains The Egg, the Bag, and the Magic Hat and more

Smith, Samuel Patrick: The Magic Ingredient and Kidology DVD. The Magic Ingredient provides info on successful kid shows, including performance and teaching of The Egg, the Bag, and the Magic Hat and more.

Steven's Magic Emporium: Egg Bag Teach In: Part of the Greater Magic Video Library. VHS (1990s); DVD 2005. Includes: Martin Lewis and the Senor Mardo Egg Bag, Tom Mullica's Comedy Egg Bag, Billy McComb's Whisky Egg Bag, and discussion with Charlie Miller and Johnny Thompson on the Malini Egg Bag.

Tong, Dan: Dan Tong Finally! 50 Years of Magic Volume 2 DVD, 78 minutes. Includes Malini Egg Bag (in three phases with glass production); and more.

Tong, Dan: Dan Tong Live by Dan Tong and Kozmo Magic DVD, 3 Hours. Includes Egg Bag (Performance Only), Malini Egg Bag with Dan's surprise finish.

White, Bob: Bob White Presents the Malini Egg Bag DVD. 1Hr, 10 Min. Bob teaches the techniques, management and psychology of the Egg Bag.

Wilson, Mark: Mark Wilson Magic Circus DVD Vol 3&4. Performance only videos of the famous Magic Circus Shows. Includes performance of The Egg Bag.

Products:

Crosewl Magic: Deluxe Devil's Hank. Not really an Egg Bag, but a useful addition for an Egg Bag act. Specially gimmicked handkerchief to vanish or switch objects. This model has two compartments for multiple object switches without coming into contact with each other. Upper corners have "feelers" sewn in to aid handling. 18" square, with an old world style map print. No instructions. $33 Crosewl Magic

Fabric Manipulation (Lynetta Welch) Silk Legacy Malini Egg Bag. Creation from Max Malini, improved by Charlie Miller and perfected by Johnny Thompson. Made from the "perfect" silk fabric of ideal weight and thickness, enabling the egg to slide easily, yet allowing for minimal "bulge." 7" wide x 8" long.  FabricManipulation

Lewis, Martin: Senor Mardo Egg Bag. The Senor Mardo Egg bag as featured in Martin Lewis' DVD, and sewn by Gladys Lewis. Martin Lewis states, "I believe them to be the most practical and deceptive egg bag available." Magikraft.com

Magic Inc.: Malini Egg Bag: The classic black silken egg bag. Ken Brooke has written an excellent book on this bag (see book references). Prices range from $20 - $35 Magic Inc.

Mikame Egg Bag by Mikame: The Mikame bag is of the Malini style, at least in materials, being made as a drawstring bag of super soft, pliable cloth. The cloth is patterned for deception. Includes a lacquered, blown egg. $35. Mikame also makes a clever MC Egg Bag Scarf designed for use by MC's (show hosts)! Mikame Magic

Neilsen Magic: Abdul's Fez. This is an egg bag in the form of a Fez Hat. I have one, and it is great. The Neilsen wooden eggs are great also. $30.00 Neilsen Magic (click for image: Abdul's Fez)

Steven's Magic: Senor Mardo Egg Bag. This is a well made Sterling type bag with some differences. Heat sealed pocket. It comes highly recommended. $32.50 Martin Lewis Home Page; or Steven's Magic

Sterling Egg Bag. Wool plaid cloth. $25

Tarbell Egg Bag. Plaid material. $15-$20

Tirofog, Inc.: Eggs-Actly Blown Eggs. These eggs are real eggs that are internally coated for durability. They are available in a variety of sizes including small, medium, large, extra-large, and jumbo. The solid eggs are intended for Egg Bag routines, but they are also available with a hole to be used for the Egg-To-Silk production routines.$12.50 Tirofog, Inc.

Tong, Pauline: Tarbell Egg Bags; Malini Egg Bag. Maker of high quality Tarbell Egg Bags with a fully stitched pocket $25, and a traditional silky smooth Malini Egg Bag $35.MagicByPauline.com

Tannen's Magic: Transparent Egg Bag: A net bag allows the bag to be seen into, yet an egg can still appear.

Uday: Egg Bag Deluxe, Ultimate, and Zipper: Uday Magic (India) manufactures three different Egg Bags (see also Funtime Magic of India). The Deluxe is a plaid cloth bag. The Uday catalog states, "the secret is so well hidden it can be done close-up." The Ultimate Egg Bag has a fine mesh nylon net on one side (black on the other) so the egg can be seen when it is dropped in the bag. Yet the egg still vanishes when desired. Finally, Uday also makes a Zipper egg bag, in which the bottom can be opened by a zipper so the bag can be viewed empty all the way through. About $6 each. Uday's Magic World

Various: Chinese Egg Bag. This is an inexpensive straw mat. The mat is folded in half, and an egg dropped in. The egg disappears, but can be removed from the mat whenever desired. In the versions that I am familiar with, the mat is not gimmicked, but rather the egg. About $4.

Viking Mfg. Co.: Malini Egg Bag. Viking's description states in part, "You will delight in the quality of the stitching, the luxurious feel of the wrinkle-resistant black material and the precise nature of our design which makes this bag work right EVERY TIME!" 7.5x8.25"; does not come with an egg (Malini bags use a blown egg).