Self-Working Close-Up Card Magic: 56 Foolproof Tricks (Dover Magic Books) [Paperback]

Karl Fulves (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Magic Books | Publication Date: April 1, 1995

Easy-to-master crowd-pleasing tricks, require a deck of cards and offer beginners experience in handling an audience. Instructions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (April 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486281248
• ISBN-13: 978-0486281247
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #896,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Magic
  • #80 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Card Games > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Self-Working Close-Up Card Magic: 53 Foolproof tricks, February 9, 2000

By 

Alan Friedman (Alameda, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Self-Working Close-Up Card Magic: 56 Foolproof Tricks (Dover Magic Books) (Paperback)

Having had no magic creating experience, it amazed me how with the clear illustrated instructions in this book, I could within a very short time have over a dozen card tricks at my command..now I've ordered Fulves' other "Self-Working" books to expand my ability to entertain and amaze others! It's really fun!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Self-Working = No sleight of hand, April 6, 2002

By 

Jim Snapp (Wabash, IN, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Self-Working Close-Up Card Magic: 56 Foolproof Tricks (Dover Magic Books) (Paperback)

This book, along with all the other Fulves Self-Working series are full of really great magic that can be done without years of practice. That however, doesn't mean no practice. As with any presentation before an audience, attention to instructions and good audience management are essential. This means that, just like an actor in a play, the magician-to-be must know exactly what to do and when to do it, what to say and when to say it. This requires several run-throughs with no audience. (Sound like practice to me!!) I think that 'self-working' in the title means that you can do the effects without working on sleights for several months/years before you can do anything magical. This material can be presented after a few hours practice!

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent magic with cards, November 21, 2011

By 

Nathan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Self-Working Close-Up Card Magic: 56 Foolproof Tricks (Dover Magic Books) (Paperback)

I'm an amateur magician who does magic just for fun. I've been doing amateur magic (mostly with cards) on and off for at least 20 years.

I love this book. I've had this book and 2 other of Karl Fulves self working card magic books since the 1980s. These books are all classics which give you an abundance of self working material. By self working he means you don't need sleight of hand or complicated moves that require weeks of daily practice. However, some tricks do require learning the routine and the use of simple props to do them right. Besides cards most of the props are simple items that are easily obtainable.

The tricks range from very easy to difficult. The easiest tricks can be learned in about 10-20 minutes whereas the harder ones can take about 30-60 minutes or more to learn. Each of his books, including this one, should provide you with at least a dozen very good tricks. This and the book "Scarne On Card Tricks" (probably the best one ever) are fantastic books that contain many amazing self working card magic. In my opinion, this is a perfect starter book for beginners.