A “Brand” New Edition of Erdnase

In the June 2010 issue of MAGIC magazine, John Lovick writes that Erdnase “inspires religious fervor and pilgrim-like devotion from its disciples”, which is to say the least for serious students. It has indeed become a devotional vade mecum with new insight and inspiration gained with every read. Many magicians have spent their life studying the book. Dai Vernon, a master of close-up magic, left us all with his wonderful annotations in Revelation, giving many of the methods a modern approach.

Erdnase will always have its devout scholars, but lately it’s become more of a trend. We think this started a few years ago when the Conjuring Arts Research Center released its Bible edition, a pocket sized version in which you won’t find a card man without. This year, we saw the release of a custom deck of cards paying tribute to Erdnase, and there is even talk now of an Erdnase convention. It is clear Erdnase is no longer just shorthand for the author’s famous work, but also a brand representing serious students and professionals of sleight of hand card technique.

Adding to the brand is a beautiful reproduction of the original 1902 publication. On the outside, it’s a perfect facsimile, however, leaf through the pages and you’ll discover an empty canvas for new ideas. This isn’t just another edition, but as John Lovick writes, “a journal in which to coalesce your card-centric thoughts.” Although you won’t find a description for the Bottom Deal, or the S.W.E. Shift, as all the text has been removed, the publisher has left all 101 drawings by M.D. Smith in their respective positions. Some might say this will get in the way, but we think it’s a simple reminder of what this journal is for. Although if you have kids, it makes for the greatest coloring book ever!

Erdnase aficionado’s will be delighted with this new homage to The Expert at the Card Table and be eager to fill its pages with everything from annotations to new ideas. We can’t wait to fill ours.

Now available in our Store.

Since the first issue came off the press in 2005 we have been avid subscribers to Gibecière, a biannual journal on the history and preservation of magic published by The Conjuring Arts Research Center and edited by Stephen Minch (author and publisher of some of magic’s most prolific books).

We are pleased to be the only other source to offer this journal to those who find joy in reading about the history of magic. With contributions from Bill Kalush, Ricky Jay, Mike Caveney, Martin Gardner, and Juan Tamariz to name a few, we don’t recommend passing this opportunity up.

Back issues are now available in our Store. You can also subscribe to Ask Alexander which includes the Gibecière journal, mailed to your door twice a year.

Martin Gardner (1914-2010)

The Nature of Things / Martin Gardner from Wagner Brenner on Vimeo.

As a young magician just starting out I remember buying Mathematics, Magic and Mystery from the local bookstore only to quickly learn every trick within days. The effects and puzzles within are extremely easy yet impossibly effective. Apart from this book, I know very little about Martin Gardner, other than what’s on Wikipedia.

Several years ago a good friend loaned Dave and I his copy of The Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic, another book by Martin Gardner which is now long out of print. For nearly 12 hours we went through every page – all 600 – thoroughly marking it up with yellow sticky notes. We look forward to the refined edition of this book with commentaries by Michael Weber to arrive later this year.

The video above is titled “The Nature of things” and gives a nice profile of Martin Gardner with long time friend and magician/mathematician, Persi Diaconis.

I got my Irving Quant Quantum Mechinics SIGNED!!!

Here is the Spello Change.

Theory11> "Gamblers Cop" by Jason England.