Hofzinser Non Plus Ultra – V4 – Hofzinser’s Salon Magic by Magic Christian

This spectacular, limited edition set features 2 massive cloth-bound books in a deluxe cloth bound slipcase (Volumes 3 and 4). More than 30 years of research have been packed into these unbelievable texts. It has been updated and and expanded from the original German edition, with each word meticulously translated by Lori Pieper

J.N. Hofzinser developed some of the most iconic card magic the world has ever seen. He is was one of the most influential magicians of the 19th century and continues to inspire magicians to this day. Yet, works covering the details of his life have often been scant and filled with errors.

That’s why more than 30 years ago, another highly respected and honored Viennese professional magician, Magic Christian, took on the task of enlarging and correcting the record we have of this legend. After doing extensive research over decades, and studying thousands of original sources, Magic Christian has managed to completely revise, expand and correct what we know about J. N. Hofzinser. The result is an exhaustive study of this master and his extraordinarily creative magic.

The fourth volume further describes the apparatus, methodology, and patter of numerous salon effects by Hofzinser. Included are the unpublished descriptions of George Heubeck’s notebook. Heubeck is believed to be Hofzinser’s most talented student, so it is natural to assume that many of Hofzinser’s unpublished ideas were recorded in Heubeck’s notebooks. Sheet music composed by Hofzinser as well as several of his scripted witticisms are provided at the end of this volume.

Comes with Volume 3 and both volumes are contained in an attractive and sturdy slipcase.

Only 1,000 sets of these limited edition books were ever printed. They are reserved for the most serious student of parlor magic and will sell out quickly.

Contents:

FOREWORD……………………………………………………………. 9
8. EGGS, LIQUID, BOTTLES, GLASSES AND CUPS……… 15
8.1 THE DISAPPEARANCE OF AN EGG FROM A HANDKERCHIEF15
8.2 THE EGG (A DELICATE THEME: THE EGG)……………………….. 16
8.3 THE EGG DISH………………………………………………………………… 27
8.4 THE OMELET…………………………………………………………………… 32
8.5 THE WELL OF LOVE…………………………………………………………. 34
8.6 THE LOVERS’INK…………………………………………………………….. 40
8.7 THE PASSE-PASSE BOTTLE………………………………………………… 46
8.8 THE WINE STORY (THE WINE SHOP)…………………………………..52
8.9 WINE ANALYSIS………………………………………………………………. 56
8.10THE LIQUEUR PIECE OR LIQUEUR EXPERIMENT…………………..62
8.1 1 THE PUNCH……………………………………………………………………..67
8.12THE WANDERING BEER……………………………………………………. 70
8.13THE COFFEE BUSINESS, FIRST VARIATION………………………….. 73
8.14THE COFFEE BUSINESS, SECOND VARIATION……………………. 78
9. RINGS………………………………………………………………. 83
9.1 THE RING GAME-THE LINKING RINGS……………………………… 83
9.2 THE WONDERFUL, ORIGINAL RING CASE………………………….96
9.3 THE IMPROVED RING CASE…………………………………………… 100
9.4 THE RING IN DANGER…………………………………………………….102
9.5 THE MAGIC KEY……………………………………………………………..110
10. SCARVES, FLAGS, ROPES AND PLUMES……………… 115
10.1 ORIGINAL TECHNIQUES WITH SILK HANDKERCHIEFS………. 115
10.2 THE HANDKERCHIEF, OR THE MEMOIRS OF GANYMEDE…. 123
10.3 THE RED HANDKERCHIEF………………………………………………..131
10.4 THE SERPENTINE HANDKERCHIEF……………………………………. 137
10.5 THE CONFUSED TAILOR…………………………………………………..139
10.6 THE KNOT PROTOCOL…………………………………………………….143
10.7 THE GORDIAN KNOT………………………………………………………148
10.8 THE REPRESENTATION OF THE GREAT POWERS……………….. 149
10.9 THE MYSTERIOUS PARASOL (THE LADIES’ SUNSHADE)……….153
10.10 THE TELLING HANDKERCHIEF…………………………………………. 160
10.11 THE AFFAIR WITH THE PLUME…………………………………………..163
10.12 THE MILITARY-SHAKO……………………………………………………165
11. WATCHES AND MIRRORS…………………………………..169
11.1 THE WATCH-THE WATCH HISTORY……………………………….. 169
11.2 CORRESPONDING WATCHES…………………………………………172
11.3 THE WATCH EXPERIMENT……………………………………………….175
11.4 THE MIRROR………………………………………………………………….. 177
12. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS……………………………………. 181
12.1 THE LITTLE CARTESIAN DEVIL…………………………………………..181
12.2 THE BALL OF YARN………………………………………………………… 186
12.3 THE TOAST…………………………………………………………………….. 191
12.4 THE LANTERN OF DIOGENES…………………………………………. 200
12.5 THE PHOTOGRAPHER (THOUGHT PHOTOGRAPHY)…………206
12.6 MAGNETIC EFFECTS-THE FLOATING ROD……………………..214
12.7 THE FLOATING KNIFE…………………………………………………….. 223
12.8 THE DIE………………………………………………………………………….225
12.9 THE MAN WITH TWO MINDS………………………………………….. 231
12.10 THE FLYING OBJECTS……………………………………………………. 232
12.11 THE GLOVE, OR MEMOIRS OF A FINGER………………………… 235
12.12 THE HOMEOPATH, OR THE PEARLS………………………………… 238
12.13 THE BUTTERFLIES (or TWO BUTTERFLIES or THE CARESSING BUTTERFLIES) ………………. 241
12.15 THE METAL BELL-THE MILLET PIECE……………………………….. 249
12.16 STINGINESS AND SQUANDERING………………………………….. 253
12.17 THE SHOT-THE PISTOL SHOT…………………………………………. 254
12.18 THE ORANGES……………………………………………………………… 256
12.19 ETTENREICH’S IMAGE…………………………………………………… 259
12.20 THE COURIER……………………………………………………………….. 261
12.21 FOUR MAKE ONE…………………………………………………………. 266
13. BIRDS……………………………………………………………….271
13.1 THE PRODUCTION OF SEVERAL BIRDS FROM AN EMPTY, BORROWED HANDKERCHIEF ……………….. 271
13.2 APPEARANCE OF A BIRD CAGE WITH SIX BIRDS…………….. 272
13.3 THE WANDERING BIRD………………………………………………….. 273
13.4 THE STROLLING CANARIES……………………………………………. 278
13.5 THE BIRD SWORD…………………………………………………………. 281
13.6 THE BIRD………………………………………………………………………. 286
13.7 BIRD CAGES FROM THE HAT…………………………………………. 288
13.8 INCUBATOR (BROOD TUB)……………………………………………. 289
14. FURTHER TITLES FROM HOFZINSER’S PROGRAMS THAT LACK EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS ……………. 293
14.1 THE APPEARANCE OF FRAU HOFZINSER………………………… 293
14.2 THE VANISHING CABINET……………………………………………… 294
14.3 THE SOMNAMBULIST…………………………………………………….. 295
14.4 THE DISAPPEARANCES…………………………………………………. 300
14.5 THE LETTER POST…………………………………………………………… 301
14.6 PHILADELPHIA’S MOST INTERESTING TRICK……………………..301
14.7 UNITY MAKES STRENGTH……………………………………………….. 302
14.8 THE TIME DIFFERENCE…………………………………………………… 302
14.9 THE ART OF GETTING ALONG WITH WOMEN………………….304
14.10 THE DOCTOR HAS BEEN SHOT……………………………………….304
14.1 1 THE PROGNOSIS OF A HIGH-PLACED DIPLOMAT or THE DIPLOMAT ………………… 306
14.12 ETUDE D’ART BRILLANT…………………………………………………. 307
14.13 THE OFFICE MANAGER AND THE INTERN………………………..308
14.14 THE ORACLE OF TURKISH WOMEN IN THE HAREM ON THE NIGHT OF THE SECOND FESTIVAL OF BEIRAM ………….309
14.15 LIKE SEEKS LIKE……………………………………………………………… 313
14.16 VARIATIONS ON AN OPTIONAL THEME………………………….315
14.17 FINAL PIECE…………………………………………………………………. 315
15. NON-MAGIC ITEMS………………………………………… 317
15.1 THE IMPROVISED KALEIDOSCOPE-THE PAPER………………317
15.2 THE PLATE……………………………………………………………………. 331
15.3 THE AUTOMATON………………………………………………………… 333
15.4 AUTOMATA…………………………………………………………………. 334
16. UNPUBLISHED DESCRIPTIONS FROM HEUBECK’S NOTEBOOK …………………..339
16.1 LIGHTS…………………………………………………………………………. 339
16.2 THE LARGE BALL…………………………………………………………… 340
16.3 THE MAGIC KITCHEN……………………………………………………. 341
16.4 THE DRUM……………………………………………………………………. 342
16.5 ELECTRICAL CASSETTE………………………………………………….. 343
16.6 THE BALL CASSETTE………………………………………………………. 344
16.7 NOTE (FOR THE CUPS AND BALLS)…………………………………346
16.8 THE GLASS CASKET………………………………………………………. 346
16.9 SUSPENDED…………………………………………………………………. 348
16.10 PULLING A RIBBON THROUGH……………………………………….350
16.1 1 THE FLOWERPOT………………………………………………………….. 351
16.12 THE LANTERN LIGHT……………………………………………………… 352
16.13 SIGNORA PEPITA………………………………………………………….. 353
17. JEAN HOFZINSER’S MUSIC COMPOSITION………… 355
18. A COLLECTION OF WITTICISMS BY HOFZINSER FROM HIS SALON TRICKS ………………. 359