The Modern Conjurer

The Modern Conjurer and Drawing-Room Entertainer was written by C. Lang Neil in 1902. Explains and Illustrates Tricks by J. N. Maskelyne, Trewey, Charles Bertram, T. Nelson Downs, Mdlle. Patrice, Paul Valadon, H. De Manche, L. Graham Lewis, Frank Kennard, Ellis Stanyon and Others.

It was one of the earliest magic books to use photographs, over 500 of them. Neil was not the first to use photographs to illustrate a magic book, but he was the first to use them to convey body language and hand movements.

Charles Bertram withheld certain touches to his Four Ace trick that were later described in Expert Card Technique by Hugard and Braue, several decades later.

It was rated as one of the top ten basic books on magic by the historian and collector, H. Adrian Smith.

Chapters include:

• SLEIGHTS USED IN CARD TRICKS
• SIMPLE CARD TRICKS
• ADVANCED CARD TRICKS
• SLEIGHTS USED IN COIN TRICKS
• TRICKS WITH COINS
• TRICKS WITH BALLS
• HANDKERCHIEF TRICKS
• MISCELLANEOUS TRICKS
• PARLOUR TRICKS
  • Plate Spinning
  • Chapeaugraphy
  • Paper Folding
  • Shadowgraphy

Editions

• 1902 - Lippincott The first British edition has Lang Neil's last name misspelt as "Niel" on the spine.
• 1911 - second edition
• 1922 - third edition
• 1937 - David Kemp & Company (New York)

References

• New York Times Nov 22, 1902 advertisement for book
• http://magicref.tripod.com/booksjr/neilmodernconjurer.htm