LAST UPDATED: 05 JANUARY 2012   THIS site features products and information on card magic by Justin Higham.  See below for books and pdf ebooks currently available from this address.  (Dealer enquiries welcome.) To order any products, click here for postage and ordering information.   While you're here, please see the archive page for some free articles on card magic by this author.

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> NOW AVAILABLE The KOSBE System: The Mechanics of Improvisation in Card Magic by Justin Higham A5-size printed booklet with card covers Price: £10.00 / $16.00 Click here to order   Consider the following effects: A card is selected, returned, and shuffled into the deck by the spectator.  Yet the card instantly appears in your pocket. A thought-of card is revealed reversed in the deck.  Four Aces are produced from a borrowed, shuffled deck. The above three effects are the results of improvisation.  This manual explains the ‘mental mechanics’ of improvisation which allow one to perform impossible effects such as the ones above. In his previous book, Secrets of Improvisational Magic, Justin Higham explored the many different forms of improvisation and the fundamental (and often hidden) secrets of the art. In this companion volume (which may be read alone), stemming from nearly two decades of experience in improvisational magic, the actual thought processes behind improvisation are analysed and explained.  If you want a nuts-and-bolts explanation of how to improvise then this book is intended to give you this. Do not be misled by the title.  ‘Mechanics’ refers to the mental mechanism or system of thought that is used when improvising.  This is not a book of card effects or sleights, even though these concepts form the basis of the system in question. Based on the out-of-print (and superceded) 15-page booklet of a similar name published in 1995, this completely rewritten and greatly expanded volume, The KOSBE System: The Mechanics of Improvisation in Card Magic contains 72 pages of detailed explanation which not only answers the fundamental question, ‘How do I improvise card magic?’, but may alter your whole outlook on the art. 72 pages, saddle-stitched A5 booklet with card covers. Click here for FAQs regarding The KOSBE System.

Pseudo Card-Cheating Switches and Related Moves by Justin Higham A5-size printed booklet with card covers Price: £7.50 / $12.50 Click here to order Mention ‘card-cheating switches’ and magicians very often shy away due to (a) the fact that such switches are not really meant for performing, and (b) they are often quite difficult to execute.  In particular, switches requiring one-handed pick-ups and throw-downs or complex palm changes and re-gripping, are avoided. The switches in the present ms. are pseudo cheating switches, and the reader may be pleasantly surprised to find that (a) they are not that difficult (requiring more coordination than manual dexterity), and (b) they can be used in pseudo-cheating demonstrations to good effect without having to reveal their methodology.  Several of the switches may also be used in a magical context. Explained is the Basic Move, 'Empty-Hands' Method, No-Palm Method (Kevin Baker), Lateral-Palm Method, Jennings-Concealment Method, Underhand Method 1 and 2, Under-Deck Method, Modified Tent Switch, Pseudo-Deal Palm Switch, Pseudo-Removal Palm Switch and Variation, Flip-and-Fan Palm Switch, Turn-and-Look Packet Switch 1 and 2 (Benjamin Earl) and Variation, and End Notes with several more ideas and applications.  All but one of the switches are packet switches, not single-card switches.  Most require palming (but not always in the conventional sense) but none require lapping (as in scooping or dropping cards into the lap or similar). This updated edition of an e-book first published in April 2010 contains 25 pages and is illustrated with over 100 photographs.  A5 saddle-stitched booklet with card covers.

More Pseudo Card-Cheating and Related Switches by Justin Higham A5-size printed booklet with card covers Price: £10.00 / $16.50 Click here to order This second volume of pseudo-cheating switches contains a wide variety of card and packet switches for both pseudo-cheating demonstrations and magical use, to be applied at the reader's discretion.  As with the first volume, the moves here do not rely on advanced palm changes or hand-mucking techniques, but basic palming and switching manoeuvres well within the reach of the intermediate student. CONTENTS: Behind-the-Hand Switch    As a Pseudo Blackjack Switch    As a Full Packet Switch Two-Stage Sequence Switch Push-Forward Unload Switch (with Chip Cover)    Bank-Note Unload Switch Lateral-Palm Swivel Switch (Will Houstoun) Ringing In a Fooler    Fake Deck Switch    The 'Appearing-Deck' Packet Switch Casual Palm-Replacement Switch    Illogical CPR Switch    1-of-2 CPR Switch    2-for-2 Spread Version (Houstoun)    1-of-2 Spread Version    1-of-2 Squared Version  Modified CPR Switch (Houstoun) Secret-Transfer Switch    Secret-Transfer Deal-Off Switch Turn-and-Spread Transfer Switch (Houstoun)    As a 3-of-4 Switch (Houstoun) Tip-Up Hole-Card Switch  With a Forward-Tabling Action Underhand Hole-Card Switch 1 Underhand Hole-Card Switch 2 Modified Kardyro Hole-Card Switch Two-Faced Hand Muck (Bobby Bernard) Simulated Placement Flick Switch (David Davies) Arm-Rest Muck (Daniel Madison/Benjamin Earl)    Lap Variation Pseudo Turnover Switch    As An Addition    As a 1-of-2 Switch Mechanical Queens Revisited Being a Magician Spread-Cover Unload Aces    Spread-Cover Unload Switch An Extra Layer of Deception    General Note on Presentation 41 pages, over 140 photos, A5 saddle-stitched booklet with card covers.

Dexterity Manual by Justin Higham A5-size printed booklet with card covers Price: £12.50 / $20.00 Click here to order This is Justin Higham's largest card book since Collected Card Notes (1999), and contains an array of moves, subtleties, and effects. Although the format is a technical manual - or rather, a 'dexterity manual' - most items require only an intermediate level of manual dexterity. CONTENTS INCLUDE: The Anti-Gravity Shift – A one-handed pass as featured on Benjamin Earl's 'Past Midnight' DVD, explained here in full detail with eight 'covers', including two by Will Houstoun. Illogical Strip-Cut Force plus... – Those who liked the Illogical Dribble Force will appreciate the Illogical Strip-Cut Force, Illogical Spread Force, Illogical False Throw-Cut Force, One-Handed IDF and Illogical Riffle Force, all explained here (no knowledge of the Illogical Dribble Force is needed).  Logical Strip-Cut Force – For those who prefer logicality, Benjamin Earl offers this flexible and deceptive force of one or more cards. Fake Zarrow Shuffle – For those who haven’t mastered a real one. Two versions are given. CO2 - A bold, no-palming version of C.O. Williams' popular card-to-pocket. Biddle Appearance Sandwich – Two buried Kings instantly and visually appear on top of the deck with a selection sandwiched between them – no passes or difficult sleights. Jungian Poker – A spectator thinks of one of five random cards, and the thought-of card is produced along with its matching straight-flush cards. No large stacks or false deals. Spectator Cuts a Run of Seven – A 'mega' version of 'Spectator Cuts the Aces' based on Randy Wakeman's popular method. Digital Poker – A full house is pulled interlaced between the fingers from a shuffled, pocketed deck. The Magician, The Fool, and The Wheel of Fortune – The names of three Tarot cards are spelt in any chosen order to arrive at three playing-cards, one of which is selected. This matches a tabled prediction. Off-Center Coincidence – Two selections turn up together as cards are dealt simultaneously from two tabled halves. Nothing special – except the spectator shuffled the deck after the selections were lost.  No palming or crimps. Pseudo Topper - An impromptu version of Marlo's 'Mental Topper', where a 'mental selection' is revealed along with its three mates.  Can be done straightaway with a borrowed deck. Intuitive 21-Card Trick – Identical to the classic lay person’s version...except the entire trick is done with the cards face down. ALSO INCLUDES: One-Handed Slip Pass, One-Handed Pull-Out, Around-the-Deck Reversal, Svengali-ish Convincer, Up-the-Ladder Finesse, Multiple Undershuffle, Deal Shuffle, One-Handed Flip-Over Force, Third-Eye Force, Tilted Fake Removal, Cognitive Transposition, Biddle-Appearance Collectors, Chinatown Bluff, Longitudinal Monte, Mini Faro – Pseudo Centers, Subconscious Culling, Riffle-Shuffle Sandwich, Deal – Count – Spell, Sense of Touch Location, The NoBo Lie Detector (including methods by Kevin Baker), and more. Over three dozen items in all, 68 pages, 50 photos, saddle-stitched A5 booklet with card covers.

Clairvoyant, Mental Topper and The Mind-Reader's Dream by Justin Higham A5-size printed booklet with card covers Price: £12.50 / $20.00 Click here to order In the early 1950s, Bob Hummer caused a stir with his rendition of 'Think-a-Card' called 'Mind-Reader's Dream', in which a card merely thought of was discovered without any questions asked.  It's drawback - a fairly complex dealing procedure and a book of tables consulted by the magician - inspired many card magicians to seek streamlined methods. In the early 90s Justin Higham published a method for the Hummer effect in which the dealing procedure was greatly simiplified and the book of tables eliminated.  This provides the basis for this new study of 'Clairvoyant' and related effects, including Marlo's seminal 'Mental Topper': an effect where not only is a thought-of card produced, but also its three 'mates'. The present ms. - a revised edition of Clairvoyant and Related Effects (2007) - complements, and further examines themes previously studied in, Jon Racherbaumer's 2004 ms., Dreamwork: Minding the Mindreader's Dream. 48 pages, over 40 variations on 'Clairvoyant', 'Mental Topper' and 'The Mind-Reader's Dream', plus an easy in-the-hands False Dovetail (Riffle) Shuffle for use in these effects.  A5 printed booklet, saddle-stitched with card covers. CLICK HERE FOR CONTENTS OF CLAIRVOYANT, MENTAL TOPPER AND THE MIND-READER'S DREAM

The Complete Illogical Dribble Force by Justin Higham A5-size printed booklet with card covers Price: £12.50 / $20.00 > If you purchased one of the original IDF volumes from either here or a dealer, email me for a special offer on this present volume Click here to order This volume combines the original booklet, The Illogical Dribble Force (2007) and the follow-up volume, Notes on the Illogical Dribble Force (2009). The basic move is an easy force which can be done without any breaks, crimps, jogged cards or similar - although these elements may be added for more sophisticated applications.  Indeed, the basic move can be done from a shuffled deck with no get-ready other than glimpsing the desired force card beforehand.  (This can be done in any manner the performer desires.) Part One of the book contains over 20 individual items, and Part Two contains over 40 items.  These include various other illogical forces which are unrelated method-wise to the Illogical Dribble Force.  These include Dave Buck's Revolving X Force, Kevin Baker's K.B. Illogical Dribble Force, David Davies' Illogical Swing Cut Force, the Illogical Riffle Force, plus effects and applications of the IDF by Paul Gordon, Will Houstoun, Andrew Murray and others. 56 pages, 35 photos, A5 saddle-stitched booklet with card covers. "I've been playing around with the IDF and I like it a lot...." - R.F., Canada "Illogical Dribble Force teaches a great, simple, direct, all-purpose force that will be of interest to any card worker because of its welcome felxibility." - Online-Visions.com (for review click here)   "Pretty ingenious really." - Reader comments, The Magic Cafe (click here)

Secrets of Improvisational Magic by Justin Higham A5-size printed booklet with card covers Price: £12.50 / $20.00 Click here to order In this concise guide to improvisation, Justin Higham reveals the fundamental secrets of creating and performing close-up card magic on-the-fly. Including chapters on Interactive Magic, the Improv Show, Jazz Magic, and The Trick That Cannot Be Explained, the various styles and modes of improvisation are stripped down to basics and their methodologies revealed. Topics include: What Jazz Magic is and how it works How to create an Improv Show How to transform a standard trick into an impossible near miracle Meet challenges, such as when someone says, "Tell me what card I am thinking of!" This book is an invaluable aid to anyone wishing to gain insight into a form of performing which can not only help us create more amazing magic, but also form a closer bond with our audiences. 8 chapters plus bibliography, 72 pages, A5 saddle-stitched booklet. "...an excellent introduction for all students, particularly of close-up card magic, to a vast and important subject." - Genii "...a must have gem" - Magic Week (see two separate reviews by Al Smith and Alan Hudson). "Justin has given voice to a too-often ignored side of card magic (indeed, all magic) and his carefully considered thoughts will make you reconsider what you do.  And that's a good thing." - The Magic Circular. "...the information could be a little dangerous for the inexperienced magician" - Magic Seen (rated 5 stars).

Reflections on Reflectors by Justin Higham FREE e-book (sent via email) Click here to order Although an ancient concept, and one greatly underused by magicians, the reflector principle can allow you to perform impromptu miracles normally only possible with gimmicks or marked cards. The purpose here is not to explain anything 'new' per se (no originality is claimed for any of the methods given), but by focussing fresh attention on the underlying concept, the hope is that new life will be breathed into an almost extinct and yet powerful principle. A distinction is made in this ms. between shiners - special gimmicks used by card cheats to read the faces of 'unseen' cards - and reflectors.  The latter are naturally-occuring objects found in everyday life. Also explained here is a means by which a spectator-peeked selection can be ascertained by the performer without the use of shiners, secret gimmicks, or glimpses.  A reflector is used - but not a 'normal' one. The ms. comes in pdf format and consists of the equivalent of 8 A4-size pages of illustrated text.

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