In The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley, the magic of this extraordinary inventor is brought together for the first time. Gathered here are his published tricks and an equal number of previously unpublished items. Much of this material has been guarded jealously by the privileged of magic, and some of it has been kept a secret from everyone. All of it is innovative, astonishing and marvelously entertaining.This first volume of a two-volume set contains over 110 original Elmsley tricks and sleights, plus a ground-breaking essay by Mr. Elmsley on presentation, psychology and misdirection. Within the pages of this big book lie some of the most exquisite and mind-boggling magic ever conceived, all thoroughly explained in 424 pages and 314 clear illustrations.

Written by Stephen Minch and illustrated by Amado Narvaez.

Contents:

A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE:
Alex Elmsley on the Theory and Practice of Magic
The Automatic Producer
On Misdirection

CHAPTER TWO: Spirited Counts and Revenant Tricks
The Four-card Trick (featuring the Elrnsley count)
Flight to Witch Mountain
Shale Fellow Well Met
A Rebours
Elmsley’s Ghost
Hoftwister
Mini-Milton (featuring the five-as-five ghost count)
Mixed Mamages
Serendipity
One Poor Lion
The Great Pretender (featuring the everchange Count)
Twister’s Flush
Thoughts in Transit (featuring the neverchange count)

CHAPTER THREE: Sundry Sleights
Break Time
Battling the Bulge
A Bluff Hand-to-hand Transfer
Taking a Break in a Spread
Preparing for the Double Lift
Fan Shuffle Strategies
The Hook-strip Shift
Top and Bottom Card Interchanges
The Tabled Cover Reverse
The Tabled Top Change
Two Novel Slipcuts
The Swivel Slip Cut
The Undercut Slip
The Tipsy Turnover Pass
A Polished Push-off
A Biddle Displacement
The Thumb Palm Addition
A Card Fan Production
New Techniques for the Rear Palm
The Top-card Rear Palm
The Misdirection Rear Palm
The Tap Replacement
The Center-card Rear Palm
A One-handed Center Steal
Trouser-pocket Loading Technique
Variations on Erdnase’s First Transformation
Transformation with Outjog
Erdnase’s First Transformation as a Vanish
Flying Squad
The Misdirection Slide Palm
Two Pocket Deck Switches
The Climax Puck Switch
The Empty- handed Pack Switch

CHAPTER FOUR: Minus Fifty-two
Puncture!
The Nodding Skull
The Visual Tom and Restored Newspaper
Ring and Paper Clip
The Twister: A Puzzle
Two Thimble Changes
The Elmsley Color-changing Knife Routine
The Perpetual Cigarette
A Cigarette Vanish
A Production of Cigarettes in Holders
Magnetic Monte
Ring on Silk
Physical Medium
Sleeve Loading for the Cups and Balls
The Elmsley Cups and Balls Routine

CHAPTER FTVE: Twisted Classics
1002nd Aces
The Atomic Aces
Repulsive Aces
Double Finders
Apprentice Aces
Pick of the Litter
The Four Blanks
Five-card Sam
Bare-aced Hofzinser
A Minor Triumph
All Backs with Aces
A Triple Reverse
Infinity: Round Trip
Chosen Cards Across
Invisible Card in Cigarette
New Pieces to an Old Puzzle
Liar’s Club
One at a Time Collectors
Snap Swap
Double Swap
Ambitious to the End
Ambitious Stranger

CHAPTER SIX: Down and Dirty Deals
7-16
A Double Prediction
Melbourne
Australian Self-help
Chance and Choice

CHAPTER SEVEN: Welcome Correspondences
Returned to the Nest
Arith-mate-ic
Pother
Brownwaves I
Shadowed
Buried Treasure I
The Memphis Matchmaker
The Right Place, the Right Time
The Book of Fortunes

CHAPTER EIGHT: Where It’s At
Buried Treasure I1
Hair Cut
Calcolate X 2
Cross-25
Weight
Choosey
Rough Tracker
Card Hopper
Penny Plain
The Clock Runs Down
Mathematics and Mentalism

CHAPTER NINE: No Gamble
Misogynist’s Monte
The Bridge Builder
Just Lucky
Aces Up
Pierce Arrow
Four Flusher
A Strange Story