Card Control: Practical Methods and Forty Original Card Experiments

by Arthur H. Buckley

Book Overview

This profusely illustrated book demonstrates step by step the astonishing card magic cultivated by one of the premier sleight-of-hand artists of the 20th century. It presents maneuvers that have left theater audiences amazed and that card-playing professionals have used to great advantage. It is not a book for beginners, but will help those with basic card expertise reach new levels of performance in their art.
Among the moves are shifts, palms,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486277577
• ISBN13: 9780486277578
• Release Date: November 1993
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Buckley was a card mommer

When I unexpectedly came across a picture of Buckley on the first page of the book, and after hearing the other reviews of how difficult and advanced the techniques in the book were, I couldn't believe my eyes. I was surprised to see the face of a handsome teenager, of which my previous impression was COMPLETELY the opposite to the one I held in my hands. And this guy was a professional card magician at the age of 18, and able to do tricks infront of hundreds of people on-stage in 1908!I have a feeling that this guy's mystery and skill probably gained him significant success with girls his age. The mysterious effects of these difficult to execute sleights are priceless and dazzling beyond belief. If a 3 columns card trick can make girls believe in magic.. then Buckley's stuff probably knocked their socks off... literally! Believe me, this guy would be able to blow David Blaine out of the water and make him look like Bob Longe.That being said and out of the way, the book itself is amazing. There are very clearcut photos of Buckley's hands and very impressive card tricks, or as he calls them in the fourth section, "Card Experiments". Best of all, this book isn't like most others where the authors seem to purposely be vague (S.W. Erdnase) and not give the best descriptions. Mr. Buckley gives you every detail and is your friend throughout the book, showing you exactly how everything is done without any confusion.And there is SO much different good stuff in here, that you'll probably never need another book for advanced materials.It is a great book and a great reference to help you on your way to card excellence and showmanship. You will not be disappointed with this purchase.

You better know what you're getting into

I've yet to see a bad review for this book, and there's a reason. This book is terrific. There is however one issue to be addressed. This book is hard!!! Definitely not for beginners, it has some of what I believe are the greatest but hardest card manipulations out there. I definitely recommend it however to the serious card magic enthusiast. There are enough valuable ideas in here to last you a lifetime.

Not For Begginers

This book by Arthur Buckley is amazing.It has loads of fantastic card sleights, whilst they do need a lot of practice it is worthwhile, as once you have them in your fingers they will never be forgotten. All of these slieghts are extremely useful. The book is divided into different sections of tricks. There are tricks for close up and for stage although some may need some imagination to update them, also there is a special section on crooked gambling.All in all a good book with lots of photographs of Buckleys hands, he was a great card worker.Buy it if you already know all the basics of card magic well.

Superb but very advanced - definitely NOT for beginners

Originally published in the 1930's,this reprint should be on the shelf of every serious card worker.Slight of hand and manipulations (many original,many very challenging) explained (with many explanatory photographs showing the hands of both Buckley and Paul LePaul) in the first part of the book followed by 40 performance pieces using what has been learned. Note - this superb book is very advanced - it is definitely NOT for beginners.

An excellent, but very advanced book of card magic.

I've been a serious student of sleight-of-hand card magic for several years. Buckley's book contains more original and practical material than a hundred lesser books combined. Other authors have shied away from many of Buckley's techniques because of their difficulty, yet THEY ARE ALL WORKABLE AND OF GREAT UTILITY!!! Also, Buckley's detailed analyses of existing, standard sleights suggest dozens of new applications. The book is divided into 4 sections, which I'll comment on individually.1. SLEIGHTS An outstanding compendium of card sleights. Features dozens of top/bottom palms, many fascinating false shuffles(Hindu, overhand, dovetail), a one-handed double lift, and (my favourite!) a multiple strip-out palm steal.2. CONJURING AT THE CARD TABLE A number of techniques and routines based on gambling artifices. This section features several excellent second deals (one of them one-handed!), methods of restoring the cut, culling and stacking methods.3. MANIPULATIONS Difficult back-palm routines and sleights in the Cardini style. Many of these principles, most suitable for stage or platform, are rarely used today. Nevertheless, I have used some of them successfully in a close-up context, primarily as flourishes. NOTE: Buckley back-palms a full pack of 52!!4. 40 EXPERIMENTS An excellent collection of intermediate and advanced card effects. NO PROPS, NO FAKES, NO DUPLICATES! Each effect features enough fine ideas to suggest several new directions to the careful reader. ENJOY THIS BOOK - it is highly underrated, even among magicians. THANKYOU!