The Modern Conjuror

A place where beginners can participate, ask questions, and post their views. However, beginners typically ask a lot of questions about sources, tricks, books, and so on. In fact, all magicians are interested (or should be) in the provenance of tricks, ideas, and related matters. This department will service these needs.
Bill Wheeler
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The Modern Conjuror

Postby Bill Wheeler » May 9th, 2008, 4:33 pm

I managed to pick up a copy of C. Lang Neil's long out of print book. And it has been a lot of fun to go through.

What was the original publication date for this book?

Thanks in advance

Bill
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LaMont
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Re: The Modern Conjuror

Postby LaMont » May 9th, 2008, 4:55 pm

Hi Bill,

I have a hardback edition by David Kemp & Comapany (New York)1937. I'm not positive, but I think that this is a first edition.

LaMont

Bill Wheeler
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Joined: March 14th, 2008, 10:22 am
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Re: The Modern Conjuror

Postby Bill Wheeler » May 9th, 2008, 5:16 pm

That is my edition as well. I read the intro by Walter Gibson to imply that the book was even older; but I could be mistaken.
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Wedges: Vokey 52,58,64

Putter: i-series Black #9

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: The Modern Conjuror

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 9th, 2008, 5:21 pm

1903 or 1906. Can't recall at the moment. One of the earlier uses of photographs in a magic book.

The first edition, British, can be identified because Lang Neil's last name is misspelt "Niel" on the spine.
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Y\'s-guy
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Re: The Modern Conjuror

Postby Y\'s-guy » May 9th, 2008, 6:19 pm

1902. I love "The Four-Ace Trick".

Sincerely,
Y

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: The Modern Conjuror

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 9th, 2008, 6:49 pm

1902? The same year as Erdnase--you'd think I would remember that.
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David Alexander
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Re: The Modern Conjuror

Postby David Alexander » May 9th, 2008, 7:07 pm

It should be noted that Charles Bertram withheld certain touches to his Four Ace trick that helped put it across. These were described in Expert Card Technique by Hugard and Braue several decades later.

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Cugel
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Re: The Modern Conjuror

Postby Cugel » May 9th, 2008, 7:56 pm

I have a first edition that is inscribed by Jean Hugard using his real initials (John Gerard Rodney Boyce, from memory), as a gift to his nephew.

One of my favourite magic books.

John LeBlanc
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Re: The Modern Conjuror

Postby John LeBlanc » May 9th, 2008, 9:08 pm

David Alexander wrote:It should be noted that Charles Bertram withheld certain touches to his Four Ace trick that helped put it across. These were described in Expert Card Technique by Hugard and Braue several decades later.


David, thank you. I had twice the fun here: first finding the damned thing, second working my way through it. As much as I've loved this book for years, it just goes to prove there's plenty more where that came from.

Edwin Corrie
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Re: The Modern Conjuror

Postby Edwin Corrie » May 10th, 2008, 6:03 am

I recently got the third edition from 1922, and according to that the first and second editions were published in 1903 and 1911. The 1922 edition is fairly small with simple blue covers, but I remember seeing another copy once which I think had green covers and was a bit more luxurious - maybe that was the first edition. It was a long time ago though, so I may be mistaken.


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