The Online Books Page

Tricks

Here are entered works on tricks or deceptions which are performed for entertainment purposes. Works on deliberate attempts to dupe, trick, or deceive persons into believing the reality or truth of evidence or assertions that are not true or real are entered under Hoaxes.

See also what's at Wikipedia, your library, or elsewhere.

• Amusements

• Tricks -- Early works to 1800
• Tricks -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
• Tricks -- Juvenile fiction
• Tricks -- Juvenile literature
• Card tricks
• Coin tricks
• Fire eating
• Magic tricks
• Trick roping
• Card games -- Tricks

• Peerless prestidigitation : being a collection of entirely new ideas and effects in the fascinating art of modern magic (Hamley Brothers, Ltd., 1910), by Herbert De Caston (page images at HathiTrust)
• J.C. cigar magic : cigar manipulations: the only complete treatise on cigar magic. Equal to personal instruction (Jack Chanin, 1937), by Jack Chanin and John P. Hoot (page images at HathiTrust)
• Endless amusement : a collection of nearly 400 entertaining experiments in various branches of science, including acoustics, arithmetic, chemistry, electricity, hydraulics, hydrostatics, magnetism, mechanics, optics, wonders of the air pump, all the popular tricks and changes of the cards, &c., &c., &c. : to which is added, A complete system of pyrotechny, or, The art of making fireworks : the whole so clearly explained, as to be within the reach of the most limited capacity. (Thorp and Burch, and Thomas Boys, 1820) (page images at HathiTrust)
• The art of amusing. Being a collection of graceful arts, merry games, odd tricks, curious puzzles, and new charades. Together with suggestions for private theatricals, tableaux, and all sorts of parlor and family amusements. (Carleton;, 1866), by Frank Bellew (page images at HathiTrust)
• Flap slate wrinkles (Pittsfield, Mass., 1931), by U. F. Grant and H. Adrian Smith (page images at HathiTrust)
• The art of amusing. Being a collection of graceful arts (Carleton;, 1867), by Frank Bellew (page images at HathiTrust)
• The book of magic : being a simple description of some good tricks and how to do them, with patter (D. Appleton, 1915), by A. Frederick Collins (page images at HathiTrust)
• The New cabinet of arts : a series of entertaining experiments in various branches of science, numerous valuable recipes, and useful facts (J.S. Pratt, 1846), by T. C. Thornton and McManus-Young Collection (Library of Congress) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Parlor amusements : home and social entertainments. (G.W. Carleton, 1878), by Frank Bellew (page images at HathiTrust)
• Endless amusement : a collection of nearly 400 entertaining experiments in various branches of science, including acoustics, arithmetic, chemistry, electricity, hydraulics, hydrostatics, magnetism, mechanics, optics, wonders of the air-pump, all the popular tricks and changes of the cards, &c., &c. : to which is added, A complete system of pyrotechny, or, The art of making fireworks : the whole so clearly explained, as to be within the reach of the most limited capacity. (Henry Washbourne and Thomas Tegg, 1839), by Chesley V. Young, Morris N. Young, Hanna M. McManus, John J. McManus, and McManus-Young Collection (Library of Congress) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Gilbert chemical magic : a presentation of original and famous tricks in conjuring accomplished by the use of chemicals (The A.C. Gilbert company, 1920), by A. C. Gilbert (page images at HathiTrust)
• The art of amusing; a collection of graceful arts, games, tricks, puzzles, and charades. (Chatto & Windus, 1877), by Frank Bellew (page images at HathiTrust)
• The art of amusing : being a collection of graceful arts, merry games, odd tricks, curious puzzles, and new charades, together with suggestions for private theatricals, tableaux, and all sorts of parlor and family amusements (Carleton ;, 1867), by Frank Bellew and Warshaw Collection of Business Americana (page images at HathiTrust)
• New handkerchief tricks : a collection of novel and original Sleights (including a practical method of executing the Continuous Back and Front Palm with a handkerchief), in connection with a series of up-to-date tricks, introducing new combinations, &c., &c., also a chapter entitled Some new knots (E. Stanyon & Co., "School of Magic", 1900), by Ellis Stanyon (page images at HathiTrust)
• The magician's own book, or, The whole art of conjuring. : Being a complete hand-book of parlor magic, and containing over one thousand optical, chemical, mechanical, magnetical, and magical experiments, amusing transmutations, astonishing sleights and subtleties, celebrated card deceptions, ingenious tricks with numbers, curious and entertaining puzzles, together with all the most noted tricks of modern performers. The whole illustrated with over 500 wood cuts, and intended as a source of amusement for one thousand and one evenings. (Dick & Fitzgerald, publishers, no. 18 Ann Street, 1857), by John Wyman, Henry Llewellyn Williams, Wiljalba Frikell, Frank Cahill, and George Arnold (page images at HathiTrust)
• Secrets of wise men, chemists and great physicians (Wm. K. David, 1889), by Wm. K. David (page images at HathiTrust)
• Art of conjuring unveilled. (M. Young, 1880), by M. Young and M. Young (page images at HathiTrust)
• Parlor amusements; or,the art of entertaining, being a volume intended to amuse everybody and enabling all to amuse everybody else. Home amusements... (G. W. Carleton & co., 1879), by Frank Bellew (page images at HathiTrust)
• Gilbert coin tricks for boys, designed to teach coin conjuring to boys in a simple manner, and to provide entertainment of an unusual character. (The A.C. Gilbert Company, 1920), by Alfred Carlton Gilbert (page images at HathiTrust)
• Handschatten-spiele. (C. Willmann's verlag, 1890), by Carl Willmann (page images at HathiTrust)
• Magic is fun : magic for every one (New Power publications, 1920), by Hereward Carrington (page images at HathiTrust)
• More tricks and puzzles without mechanical apparatus (Routledge ; New York : Dutton, 1910), by Will Goldston (page images at HathiTrust)
• The book of mystery & magic : fun with paper, coins, matches, handkerchiefs, and other homely articles (W. Foulsham & Co., in the 1900s), by David Devine (page images at HathiTrust)
• La Vellma's vaudeville budget for magicians, mind readers and ventriloquists (R.W. Doidge, 1921), by David J. Lustig (page images at HathiTrust)
• The modern cabinet of arts : a series of entertaining experiments in various branches of science, numerous valuable recipes, and useful facts (London : J. Barr & Co., MDCCCXLII [1842], 1842), by T. C. Thornton (page images at HathiTrust)
• The Old army game : complete exposure of the modern 'Three shells and pea' gambling swindle. ([publisher not identified], 1920) (page images at HathiTrust)
• How to make a ghost walk; simple directions for staging a séance (D. Kemp & company, 1936), by Joseph Dunninger (page images at HathiTrust)
• Tricks every boy can do (Hart Pub. Co., 1948), by Harold H. Hart (page images at HathiTrust)
• A bag of tricks (The Reilly & Lee co., 1931), by Will L. Lindhorst (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Three hundred tricks you can do (Comet Books, 1948), by Howard Thurston (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• A B C of conjuring (Dranels, 1923), by Charles Crayford (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Encyclopedia of amateur and professional magic for home and stage : a practical treatise on coin tricks, card tricks, sleight-of-hand, illusions, black art, mind reading, spirit mediumship, ventriloquism, etc., etc., modern magical mysteries, many secrets and methods of marvelous performances explained which have astounded the public in all nations (Stein Publishing House, 1941), by Max Stein (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Good time party games (Minneapolis Novelty Co., 1928), by A. K. Becker (page images at HathiTrust)
• Jap box tricks : an exhaustive treatise on the Japanese or Egyptian handkerchief box, containing many new uses, tricks and ideas, together with complete acts and routines (s.n., 1937), by Glenn G. Gravatt (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Words for wizards (Schulte, 1924), by George Schulte (page images at HathiTrust)
• Book of parlor tricks: How to perform them (Gutenberg ebook)
• The Juggler's Oracle; or, The Whole Art of Legerdemain Laid Open: Consisting of all the newest and most surprising tricks and experiments with cards, cups and balls, conveyance of money and rings, boxes, fire, strings and knots; with many curious experiments by optical illusion, chymical changes, and magical cards, &c., by H. Boaz (Gutenberg ebook)
• The Art of Amusing: Being a Collection of Graceful Arts, Merry Games, Odd Tricks, Curious Puzzles, and New Charades. Together with Suggestions for Private Theatricals, Tableaux, and All Sorts of Parlor and Family Amusements., by Frank Bellew (Gutenberg ebook)

• Sports and pastimes, or, Sport for the city and pastime for the country with a touch of hocus pocus, or leger-demain / fitted for the delight and recreation of youth by J.M. (London : Printed by H.B. for John Clark ..., 1676), by J. M. (HTML at EEBO TCP)

• The Magician's Own Book, or, the Whole Art of Conjuring: Being a complete hand-book of parlor magic, and containing over one thousand optical, chemical, mechanical, magnetical, and magical experiments, amusing transmutations, astonishing sleights and subtleties, celebrated card deceptions, ingenious tricks with numbers, curious and entertaining puzzles, together with all the most noted tricks of modern performers., by George Arnold and Frank Cahill (Gutenberg ebook)
• How to Do Chemical Tricks: Containing Over One Hundred Highly Amusing and Instructive Tricks With Chemicals, by A. Anderson (Gutenberg ebook)

• Molly Brown's Junior Days, by Nell Speed, illust. by Charles L. Wrenn (Gutenberg ebook)

• Sports, pastimes, and recreations. (D. Bogue, 86, Fleet Street, 1847), by Samuel Williams (page images at HathiTrust)

• Fifty New Card Tricks: A Comprehensive Description of the Continuous Front and Back Hand Palm With Cards and the Sensational New Rising Card Trick; Also Many New and Unpublished Tricks With Cards (New York: Wehman Bros., ca. 1900), by Howard Thurston (page images at HathiTrust)
• Howard Thurston's Card Tricks: Being a Fin de Siècle Manual on the Art of Conjuring With Cards, Including, Among Many Hitherto Unpublished Novel and Unique Experiments, a Comprehensive Description of the Continuous Front and Back-Hand Palm With Cards, and the Sensational New Rising Card Trick (Baltimore: I. and M. Ottenheimer, c1903), by Howard Thurston (page images at HathiTrust)
• New Era Card Tricks (London: W. and F. Hamley, c1897), by August Roterberg, illust. by L. R. Gossett (multiple formats at archive.org)
• Sealed Mysteries: Explaining the Latest Card Mysteries and Spirit Tricks Made Public for the First Time, with Directions for Constructing Trick Cards (Brooklyn, NY: Master Technic Pub. Co., c1911), by Burling Hull
  • multiple formats at archive.org
  • page images at HathiTrust
• Artifice, Ruse and Subterfuge at the Card Table: A Treatise on the Science and Art of Manipulating Cards (Chicago: F. J. Drake and Co., c1902), by S. W. Erdnase (page images at HathiTrust)
• Les mille récréations de société, contenant la description de tous les tours intéressans de gobelets et de cartes, et généralement tout ce qui est relatif à l'escamotage; des récréations de mécanique, d'optique, de chimie, d'hydraulique, etc., etc. (A. Wahlen, 1830), by J.-L. Hanin (page images at HathiTrust)
• Gale's cabinet of knowledge; or, Miscellaneous recreations: containing moral and philosophical essays, propositions, natural and metaphysical maxims, and observations on select subjects of general utility: with a series of easy, entertaining, and interesting mechanical, magnetical, and magical experiments; including the most celebrated card deceptions; together with about seven hundred serious, comic, and humorous queries, paradoxes, &c. with pertinent and ingenious answers; comprizing the essence of the Lady's, Gentleman's, and Carnan's Diaries: Ozanam and Hooper's Recreations; Martin's Philosophical magazines, &c. Illustrated with copperplate engravings. To which are added, a great number of originals. Likewise an appendix; containing various propositions tending to prove light and heat two distinct beings; with some curious definitions in optics. (Printed for Cuthell and Martin [etc.], 1808), by John Gale (page images at HathiTrust)
• Sealed mysteries : explaining the latest card mysteries and spirit tricks made public for the first time, with directions for constructing trick cards (Master Technic Pub., 1911), by Burling Hull (page images at HathiTrust)
• New era card tricks (W. & F. Hamley, 1897), by A. Roterberg (page images at HathiTrust)
• Wunder der kartenkunst; fortsetzung des prachtwerkes Der vollendete kartenkünstler (Horster, 1920), by Friedrich Wilhelm Conrad Horster (page images at HathiTrust)
• Prestidigitation moderne; recueil de tours de physique amusante (Delarue, 1877), by L. P. (page images at HathiTrust)
• Carlo Bosco's Zauber-Kabinet (Ernst, 1870), by Carlo Bosco and Kerndörffer (page images at HathiTrust)
• Rational recreations, in which the principles of numbers and natural philosophy are clearly and copiously elucidated, by a series of easy, entertaining, interesting experiments. Among which are all those commonly performed with the cards. (Printed for L. Davis, 1787), by W. Hooper (page images at HathiTrust)
• Si Stebbins offers men-telo-card-ology for your approval and entertainment. (F.E. Hause, 1939), by Si Stebbins (page images at HathiTrust)
• Modern card manipulation (C. Arthur Pearson, 1915), by C. Lang Neil (page images at HathiTrust)
• One hundred tricks with cards. (Dick & Fitzgerald, 1859), by J. H. Green (page images at HathiTrust)
• Nouveau manuel de prestidigitation et de magie blanche, traité complet de tours de cartes à l'usage des gens du monde. (L. Mulo, 1912), by Roger Barbaud (page images at HathiTrust)
• Der vollendete kartenkünstler (Verlag der "Lustigen blätter" (Dr. Eysler & co.) g.m.b.h., 1920), by Friedrich Wilhelm Conrad Horster (page images at HathiTrust)
• Modern card effects and how to perform them; a book of interest to the amateur and the professional, continuing the cream of practical card effects, together with some pet effects of the authors. (A. P. Felsman, 1920), by Geo. De Lawrence and James C. Thompson (page images at HathiTrust)
• Der wohlbewanderte kartenkünstler, oder, Anleitung zu mehr als hundert überraschenden kartenkunststücken (B.F. Voigt, 1872), by L. von Alvensleben (page images at HathiTrust)
• Carlo Bosco's tooverkabinet. Onder anderen bevattende 154 verrassende kunststukken uit de natuurlijke tooverkunst, met kaarten, kogels, geldstukken, ringen, enz., benevens 46 kunststukken met speelkaarten, en 13 der onderhoudendste rekenkunstige raadsels. Met 24 afbeeldingen. (H.C.A. Campagne & Zoon, 1884), by Carlo Bosco (page images at HathiTrust)
• Hanky panky : a book of conjuring tricks (J.C. Hotten, 1872), by Henry Llewellyn Williams, W. H. Cremer, and Wiljalba Frikell (page images at HathiTrust)
• Der Amateurzauberer : eine Sammlung auserlesener, überraschender Zauberkunststücke mit Münzen, Karten und anderen Gegenständen, zur Darstellung in privaten Kreisen (Schwabacher'sche Verlagsbuchh., 1900), by H. F. C. Suhr (page images at HathiTrust)
• Moderne Magie (Neukomm & zimmermann, 1910), by Fritz A. Hügli (page images at HathiTrust)
• Magisches Allerei (Horsterscher Verlag, 1905), by F. W. Conradi (page images at HathiTrust)
• Dʹemonstrations mystʹerieuses (Horsterscher Verlag, 1905), by F. W. Conradi (page images at HathiTrust)
• The burglar (Magic Products Co., 1921), by Arthur Herbert Buckley, Gus Moford, and Harlan Tarbell (page images at HathiTrust)
• The triple climax (Magic Products Co., 1921), by Arthur Herbert Buckley, Gus Moford, and Harlan Tarbell (page images at HathiTrust)
• Card fan productions. (L.L. Ireland, 1941), by Edward Marlo (page images at HathiTrust)
• Card cheats--how they operate; a play-by-play exposé of the tricks of the card sharp's trade. (William-Frederick Press, 1950), by Floyd Moss (page images at HathiTrust)
• Watch this one! A collection of choice magical effects with small objects, by J. B. Bobo. Edited by J. G. Thompson, jr. (L. E. Jones, 1947), by J. B. Bobo (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Card manipulations. (M. Holden, 1934), by Jean Hugard (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Nouveau manuel de prestidigitation, traité complet de tours de cartes à l'usage des gens du monde (L. Mulo, 1910), by Roger Barbaud (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Expert card technique, close-up table magic (C. W. Jones, 1940), by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Novel mysteries (E. Bagshawe & Co., 1927), by Edward Bagshawe (page images at HathiTrust)
• Magicien des salons (Delarue, 1859), by active 19th century Richard and Delion (page images at HathiTrust)
• Höhere Kartenkunst : Sammlung von 100 auserlesenen, zum grössten Teil neuen, bisher unveröffentlichten Kartenkunststücken (Lehmann & Schüppel, 1927), by Leopold Figner (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Popular magic (Experimenter Publishing Co., 1926), by Joseph Kraus and Joseph Dunninger (page images at HathiTrust)
• Endless Amusement: A Collection of Nearly 400 Entertaining Experiments in Various Branches of Science; Including Acoustics, Electricity, Magnetism, Arithmetic, Hydraulics, Mechanics, Chemistry, Hydrostatics, Optics; Wonders of the Air-Pump; All the Popular Tricks and Changes of the Cards, &c., &c. to Which is Added, a Complete System of Pyrotechny; Or, the Art of Making Fire-works. (Gutenberg ebook)

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