“Pick a card... any card”

It’s probably one of the most famous lines in magic. Love them or hate them, card tricks have been around for centuries, and continue to be the most popular form of magical entertainment in the world. What follows is a short history of how card tricks came about over the last 100 years, and links to books and effects that will set you on your way to learning this hugely popular form of entertainment!

While the first ever mentions of card tricks in history date back to around the 1300-1400’s, the art as we know it today in its modern day documented form has a much shorter history. It is generally accepted that the first ever book on card magic was published in 1902 by S W Erdnase. The Expert at the Card Table (which is still in print today) is an extensive collection of sleight of hand card techniques used primarily by crooked gamblers. It is from this century old book that most modern day card tricks were derived.

After Erdnase came the modern greats. If Erdnase was the father of card magic, then Dia Vernon was the godfather. Vernon, affectionately referred to as “The Professor” by his peers, was a hugely influential character in the world of card tricks. He famously fooled Houdini (who previously boasted that he could not be fooled), and is generally accepted as the originator of some of the most popular plots in card magic. Many of his magic books are still in print today, and Vernon is credited with mentoring many of the creative card magicians who would continue his legacy long after his death.

It is unlikely that you will be involved in the world of card magic for long before hearing the name Ed Marlo. Marlo published more than 2000 tricks, sleights and techniques, many of which are still commonly used among card magicians today. His book Revolutionary Card Magic is something of an encyclopaedia of his work, and is essential reading for the serious card magic student.

Two other great authors in the realm of card magic are Jean Huggard and Frederick Braue. While these two names don’t carry quite the same weight as Vernon or Marlo, their books are widely recognised as “must have” texts for anyone calling themselves a magician. The Royal Road to Card Magic, published in 1948, is one of the best selling magic books of all time (and is now also available on DVD). Their earlier works such as Card Manipulations and Expert Card Technique are also popular texts.

But if you want the most up-to-date collection of card sleights and tricks then you need look no further than the Card College collection written by Roberto Giobbi. These 5 books cover a myriad of card magic technique, much of derived from the fathers of magic themselves, brought up-to-date and explained in modern day English with excellent illustrations to accompany it. While these books more expensive than picking up a copy of Royal Road, they represent an excellent encyclopaedia that you will refer to time and time again.

Today, new books being published on card tricks are few and far between. The DVD is the chosen medium for most to release their work, as it is cheaper to produce and involves much less risk than publishing a printed book. Packet tricks are also popular ways to perform card tricks – these individual tricks are quick to learn and easy to perform, making them a very popular choice for young and learning magicians.

But if you truly want to learn the art of card magic then there is no substitute for the written word, and many of the books published over the last 100 years contain gems that you will not find anywhere else. They will also give you insight into the thought process of those who sculpted our art, and while Vernon and Marlo may be a million miles away from the David Blaine’s of this world, the card tricks Blaine performs would not even be around if it weren’t for these greats.