In a world where new magic tricks pop up faster than you can say "abracadabra," few can keep pace with the sheer volume of cleverness produced by one unassuming Scottish computer whizz: Alex Elmsley.
For many of you, this name is as familiar as your own. The Elmsley count—an essential sleight for budding card magicians—is just the tip of the iceberg. Over his lifetime, this genius has delivered over 200 original pieces of groundbreaking magic, scattered across various publications and decades (yes, decades!).
Before 1991, the legendary magic scribe Stephen Minch took it upon himself to gather every last nugget of wisdom Elmsley had ever written. The result? The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley. This hefty two-volume set spans nearly 1000 pages, offering an in-depth look at one of magic's brightest minds. And guess what? After years in the shadows, both volumes have made a triumphant return and look better than ever. We've spruced up the old images and reprinted any dodgy text, making this classic a must-have for anyone serious about magic.
Highlights from Volume 1:
Flight to Witch Mountain - Watch in awe as four queens are dealt face down, only for three to mysteriously abandon their piles and join the fourth. Magic? Or just clever misdirection?
Twister's Flush - A royal flush is extracted, displayed, and then flipped face down. A magical gesture later, and voilà! The ten is now proudly face up in the centre. How did he do that? (Don’t ask me!)
The Thumb Palm Addition - An intriguing method for secretly adding cards to the top of the deck that Elmsley played around with in the late 50s. Talk about vintage charm!
There's so much more packed into this tome that listing it all would take longer than a magician’s dramatic pause. Rest assured, you’ll find everything from sleights to insights and multi-phase routines. Oh, and there’s an entire chapter dedicated to the mathematical wizardry behind the faro shuffle—because why not?
No matter how you approach magic, there’s bound to be something in these pages that resonates with you. Dive in and discover why Alex is regarded as one of the greatest minds in the art!
