If you've dabbled in magic for a few years, you know that moment when you crack open an old tome and discover an absolute gem of an effect. And you think: "How on earth did I miss this?"
Magic is overflowing with hidden treasures—brilliant routines tucked away in dusty corners of books, old magazines, or lecture notes, just waiting to be rediscovered (and let's be honest, probably forgotten about). Mark Elsdon dubs these little nuggets Hidden Gems.
For years, he's been diving deep into the magic literature to unearth powerful effects that hardly anyone performs—despite them being more than worthy of a spot in any pro’s repertoire.
This book is the fruit of that labour.
In The Complete Hidden Gems, Mark compiles all the material he’s unveiled over the years, plus some shiny new discoveries. It’s essentially a treasure map for magicians.
Cards, coins, close-up, mentalism, stage, cabaret... Each effect is accompanied by context, origin, and—most importantly—why it smacks audiences right in the feels.
This isn’t just a dry list of tricks. It’s a chance to rediscover some of the most impactful ideas ever published—those that hardly anyone dares to perform, but could easily become your signature pieces.
And for the thrill-seekers among you, there’s a special section featuring Hidden Gems that could even fool Penn & Teller (not that we’re saying you should try that).
If you're on the hunt for fantastic tricks that no one else is doing (and who isn’t?!), you’ll find a treasure trove here:
- 1000+ referenced effects: a massive goldmine of magic
- The best forgotten secrets, hidden in plain sight
- Real-world material that packs a punch with audiences
- A guide to rediscovering your own magical library
Reviews for Hidden Gems:
"I confess that I would prefer to NOT recommend this book, purely for selfish reasons. It's a treasure chest that will unlock your library and send you racing to fill in any gaps. And I just had to buy another book I didn't have. This book is going to cost me a fuckinging fortune!"
- R Paul Wilson
"Whether you are looking for unique new pieces for your pro working repertoire or killers for your next magic session, Mark has done the hard work for you! There's gold in these pages from some of the greatest minds in Magic. I'm equally thrilled and annoyed that this collection has been put together; it's a must-buy."
- James Went
"Let's face it; we all know that some of the best stuff is hiding in plain sight. We have all missed a beauty that was staring us right in the face. Well...imagine a book that does the incredible job of giving the savvy magician a second look at that killer material. Mark's "Hidden Gems" does exactly that! A collection of high-impact magic, cherry picked to only give you the best of the best. Polish up these "Hidden Gems". They are a true treasure. And so is Mark's book."
- Jonathan Friedman
"Mark has curated a spectacular collection! I am like a kid in a candy store with so many effects and routines I haven't even heard of before. The knowledge and insight that has gone into Hidden Gems is incredible."
- Bro Gilbert
"In magic part of our daily ritual is to look for the hidden gems, the real treasures, the real magic. Mark Elsdon is one of the best read "treasure" hunters I know of. When he points out a vein of treasure I explore. In this book Mark doesn't teach tricks he's created. Instead he points out sources and effects that you should explore. He's got great taste in material, meaning you can skip a lot of fodder and simply find some uncovered miracles. If you love finding great magic this book will be a treasure map you will delight in."
- Tim Trono
"Loved this Book! Hidden Gems is such a great idea for a publication, and will start many hours of treasure hunting - and Mark has gone to the trouble of ensuring that you will be uncovering gold. Highest recommendation."
- Liam Montier
"Choosing new material is a tough process as you have to wade through lots and lots of garbage, to find even a single piece that's worthy of your time and effort. But not anymore - Mark has done all the hard (and expensive!) work for us so we can only focus on the fantastic, overlooked effects that nobody else is doing! Hidden Gems has my highest recommendation!"
- Iain Moran
"Mark Elsdon is my regular source for hidden gems ... he scours magic literature and finds ideas that inspire me to look harder, and closer."
- Andi Gladwin
"I have mixed feelings however - I suspect he has made things a bit too easy. The reader is guided painlessly towards material that many performers have painstakingly researched in order to add it to their repertoires. It's all there on a plate for you! This is a terrific repository of great magic. "Hidden Gems" is offered at a great price for what could turn out to be a lifetime's worth of killer material! A MUST BUY!"
- Dave Jones
"This is a brilliant idea from Mark Elsdon. The saying is that "if you want to keep it secret, put it in a book". Mark highlights some of the best routines he's found from his extensive reading, pointing to the sources of some overlooked classics. Great unknown material here. Literally the first I looked at (that I had access to already) has got me excited and brainstorming away. High quality choices from a magic connoisseur."
- Chris Wood
