Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 MERLINS MAIL

Welcome to the third edition of our new format ‘Merlins Mail’ Inside you will find an exciting mix of the latest effects from all around the world. We are pleased to announce that we are beginning to re-introduce the fantastic Mikame range of quality magic from Japan back into our inventory, this has been unavailable for years, you will find a few Mikame gems inside. Thank you to all who have contributed to Merlins Mail, and to everyone who got in touch with their feedback. We welcome any ideas or suggestions for future content, you may even like to volunteer an article for inclusion in future issues. If you are looking at a pdf version of this issue, you can click on the underlined title of the effect to be taken direct to our website for videos and information.

Inside this issue: A clever effect to make and learn from Ali Cardabra pg. 7 More great bargain effects on……pg. 8 An ingenious way to produce a Rubik Cube by Chris Wardle….pg. 16 A very strong card effect from Paul Gordon…pg. 19 The latest effects from Magic Wagon….Pg’s. 11 & 18 And much, much more…

Merlins Mail 1 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 I.G.G. IGG - Stands for "Instant Gig Getter." It insulates your performance from potential spectator disinterest. It also 'infects' your participant with absolute amazement. IGG is an instant killer. You could ideally do this for someone from whom you may be soliciting a gig - an agent or a VIP client, etc. Right in the beginning, you push a single playing card into the participant's pocket without showing it to him. Then you ask him to check the playing card against his date of birth, which he does. He will be shocked to see that it is exactly the same card that he removes from his own pocket. As a nice kicker, even a word against his date of birth is impossibly predicted by you and you also explain the hidden meaning of that word. Most likely you will get that gig. No sleights, no stooges and no pre show. No stack, no gaff playing cards and in fact no playing cards at all. No peeks, no tears, no impressions, no threads, no electronics, no PA or BA. The prediction is totally open and un-gimmicked. This is simple, easy, clean and direct. Everything you will need is included here and you can start performing right away. Great for on line performances too…£20.00…SPECIAL PRICE…£10.00

APPARITIONALLY YOURS by Mark Lee A card is selected by a spectator from a regular deck, and is placed face down on the table. The Magician introduces three blank cards, which are freely shown to be blank on both sides. Suddenly a back design appears on the centre card, and when turned face up is seen to have a printed face which matches the spectators chosen card. The freshly printed card is sandwiched once more between the two blank cards, and once again, mysteriously vanishes, leaving just three blank cards. Another MERLINS Exclusive effect…£15.00 ESP by Wayne Dobson This is one of our all time favourites, it is an incredibly direct piece of and is a real fooler. Five ESP cards are removed from a wallet, along with a small round disc with a question mark, and a small sign with ‘ESP’ printed on it. You explain that you are about to conduct an experiment in ESP, and give the spectator the round disc, and ask them to drop it on ANY ESP card they wish. You give them the option of changing their minds, and they can, or leave the disc on the original card. Under these impossible conditions, you now show that you had predicted their selection! Very easy to do. Another MERLINS Exclusive effect…£20.00

KINGS AND ACES The two red Kings are shown sandwiched between two face-down cards. With a magic flourish, the two red Kings appear to magically change into the two black Kings. Just when your spectators think they may have worked out how you did that- another magic flourish and the Kings change again but this time into the four Aces! Great magic at a great price…£6.00 www.merlinswakefield.co.uk 01924 339933 [email protected]

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CASH CARDS Next time you are paying for something ask if the retailer accepts cards, imagine their surprise when you bring out two playing cards! The two cards are very cleanly shown on both sides, apart from the two cards your hands are empty, no palming. One card is placed on top of the other and squared. The cards are now spread apart and a REAL banknote magically appears between them. Can be added to your regular Bicycle deck, or just used on its own. A great effect you can perform anytime…£8.00

BASIC CARD MAGIC SPELL TECHNIQUE by Wayne Dobson Thinking about brushing up on This is a great commercial your card technique? Want to routine from the brilliant improve your magic? This Mr .Dobson. You separate six wonderfully illustrated book has half cards into two groups twenty chapters filled with card moves, forcing, under the instructions of the spectator, yet palming, false cuts, etc. Here are just some of each of the half cards match perfectly. You the sleights taught: The Pass, False Cuts, now choose a half BEFORE the spectator, and Counts, The Double Lift, Top Change, Forcing, again they match. Finally, it all goes wrong, as Bottom Change, Glimpses, Flourishing, the two halves are different. However, when Palming, etc. Learn the right way to do these your prediction, which has been on the table sleights. Anthony Norman also covers subjects since the beginning of the effect is revealed, IT such as colour changes, mentalism effects, MATCHES THE TWO ODD HALVES presentation and how to get the most out of PERFECTLY ! Self working effect, with your magic. There are literally hundreds of laminated cards and DVD instructions. Another moves, tricks, sleights, flourishes, and methods MERLINS Exclusive effect…£20.00…Special of forcing within the pages of this book…£10.00 Price…£15.00

PREDICTO TRANSPO INK-JET by J.P. Vallarino This is a ‘knock-out’ effect! Very An original routine combining both mentalism strong and so easy to do.The and a surprising visual effect. magician introduces two decks A new method with an of cards one red and one blue. exceptional climax! The name A spectator selects a deck and of the chosen card appears it is placed into their pocket. on the card case! Effect: The The spectator takes the magician writes a prediction on the card case. remaining deck and removes The spectator freely selects a card from the three cards from it and THINKS of one of them. deck. The magician turns the case over, to find The spectator now removes the deck from his a mixed up set of letters. After a quick gesture, pocket and looks for the duplicate card to the the letters form the name of the card! The one he is mentally thinking of. He is stunned to cards are spread, and one card is face up - the discover the deck only contains 51 cards! The spectator\'s card. And, its back is a different card he is thinking of is missing!! The magician colour from those of the rest of the cards! The now produces the missing card from his pocket. card case can even be examined afterwards. This is a very strong effect suitable for both For those who know: YES the inscription is close up and stand up. You never touch the really ON the box and the card-case can be decks once the effect begins. Totally self given to the spectator. All materials are working - even a child can do it! Another included Online instructions. N.R.P. £30.00 MERLINS Exclusive effect…£25.00 SPECIAL PRICE 50% OFF…£15.00

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DODECKADEAL FREAKY BODY ILLUSIONS by John Archer “You wont believe your eyes, ears, hands or feet!" Marvin's Magic has collaborated with An experiment is conducted to some of the best magicians and illusionists find the relationship between from around the world to produce some chance and choice. A deck of innovative and highly visual illusions that you cards is fairly shown. After will be able to do with your own body. Using briefly shuffling the deck, half is these incredible magic props and exclusive given to a spectator, who again shuffles them DVD you will amaze your friends and family and then begins to deal them into a small pile. with a whole list of Freaky Body Illusions The spectator is instructed to stop dealing by including: Levitating yourself, flossing your chance whenever she likes. The magician brain, performing crazy finger stunts and even shuffles his half and allows the spectator to holding a living hand! Here at make a free choice from the face up cards. Merlins we think the ‘living This chosen card is placed face up onto the arm’ is worth the price of the spectator's pile. Now this same procedure is complete set alone. We get repeated twice more for the sake of scientific great reactions when we use it consistency. When the piles are examined it is in the shop…£50.00… found that the card stopped at by chance in SPECIAL PRICE…£15.00 every case is the exact mate of the card selected by choice! Can be repeated for the same audience! Easy to do! Extremely quick PSYCHIC POKER reset! DoDeckaDeal is supplied with full written instructions and special Bicycle deck… by Steve Cook £20.00…SPECIAL PRICE…£10.00 The combination of magically printing playing cards in your bare hands, a gambling theme ASTRO-SCOPE and a novel presentation makes Steve Cooks PSYCHIC POKER a by Mark Lee commercially sound close up routine. A set of zodiac cards are In a dream you are playing poker....with a introduced and a spectator is psychic! You begin with five totally blank enlisted to take part in a playing cards and using your best psychic mental experiment. The ability you project images onto the blank cards. twelve zodiac cards are handed to the First you cause a back to appear, then a face spectator to examine and shuffle. You now eventually creating a perfect royal flush! But show the cards one at a time and the spectator wait, what happens if you are accused of is asked to ‘think’ of any one of the signs. cheating? No problem, you simply stop Without any questions or ‘fishing’ you are able concentrating and the printed images to divine the thought of sign with 100% magically fade away, leaving you with five accuracy. There is no forcing, only the twelve totally blank cards again and the memory of a zodiac cards are used, no marked cards or very strange dream!! gimmicks of any kind, no , no Very easy to perform, no difficult sleight of set up. The cards are produced on plastic hand, no rough and smooth, no sticky cards. stock to last. This effect is ideal to carry in your Comes complete with special Bicycle playing wallet for an impromptu miracle. Another cards and instructional DVD. Another MERLINS Exclusive effect…£20.00 MERLINS Exclusive effect….£15.00

Merlins Mail 4 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 GALAXIAN by Steven Tucker The ultimate 'Out of This World' with a shocking kicker finish! Galaxian is an ingenious 'Out of This World' that is performed with the cards face up! The deck is shuffled. The spectator is handed the pack and they are asked to separate the cards into two piles - one containing all red cards, and one containing all black cards, but, without looking! You can blindfold them or simply ask them to close their eyes. When they open their eyes and check the packets, they have apparently failed, as both packets contain a mixture of red and black cards. However... You then reveal that actually, they HAVE separated the reds from the blacks... Just not in the way that they expected. When the cards are turned face down half have RED backs the others have BLACK backs! Includes special Bicycle deck. Instant reset. Fully Examinable. Written instructions and online video. Easy to do. Astonishing kicker finish!…£19.99

We buy your used magic effects and books for cash Call 01924 339933 for more details.

POWERBALL 60 NO CHOICE WALLET by Richard Sanders by Tony Miller The EASIEST, most PRACTICAL A small credit card wallet is placed on the MIND-READING effect EVER! table. A deck of cards is GENUINELY Have a spectator think of any SHUFFLED. The number between 1 and 60 and to spectator removes ANY imagine that number as their CARD. This card is slid secret winning lottery number. into the clear credit card For fun, hand them your used holder (NO SWITCH scratch tickets and ask them to see ETC) how many winners they would have had. The wallet is flipped over By this simple action alone... so to show a money clip YOU NOW KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER THEY ARE on the back. Under the clip, there is one THINKING OF! SIMPLE TO DO! 100% ACCURATE banknote. (ANY NOTE FROM ANY EVERY-TIME. INSTANTLY REPEATABLE as many COUNTRY CAN BE USED). The wallet is times as you want with DIFFERENT NUMBERS every HANDED TO THE SPECTATOR.THEY time! No sleight of hand. The tickets do all the work for remove the note from the clip. Written on you! Completely EXAMINABLE. Nothing to replace. the note, in big bold black marker, is: YOU Use this over and over. Finally a magic prop THAT WILL CHOOSE THE JACK OF CLUBS. DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A MAGIC PROP! THEY slide-out THEIR CHOSEN CARD. It POWERBALL 60 is the perfect covert tool to throw into really is the JACK OF CLUBS! You claim your wallet. No need for peeks, impressions or special they really had NO CHOICE. The SAME wallets. With Powerball 60, the tickets do all the work deck is handed to them: EVERY CARD IS for you.With the simple and natural action of asking BLANK! You will love the method, it is the spectator to see how many winning tickets they such a brilliant idea. Wallet is only 3 3/4 would have had, your very special set of Powerball 60 inches x 2 3/4 inches (9.5cm x 7.5cm) You tickets will openly reveal to you any number from 1 to can put everyday objects inside, cash, 60 that the spectator is thinking of. What's fantastic cards, driver's licence etc. Also comes about the method is that it is so natural that even the with other bonus ideas and handlings. It most observant spectator will have no clue how it's can be a different card every done or that you have even done anything at all… time.INCREDIBLE PRICE FOR THIS £25.00….SPECIAL PRICE…£15.00 QUALITY AND EFFECT…£55.99

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PLM by Magic Dream Easy to do and very visual, this trick is suitable for both adults and children! PLM (Pretty Little Men) is a new kind of card trick. The magician introduces a rather special set of cards because each card represents a little man with the first letter of the word below (G for Guitarist, P for Painter, C for Clown, etc.). You can present the deck as a game for kids to learn vocabulary. In fact, this simple board game will allow you to perform an incredible magic trick. The spectator freely chooses a card and places it on the table. The magician gives himself 5 chances to find the card, but fails. While everything seems to have failed, the magician snaps his fingers and turns the 5 cards over, which now reveal the spectator's selection as a huge pictogram! You'll leave the spectators speechless with this impossible climax! You can start over again with a different card if you wish. Perfect for close-up for children or adults, you can always carry this card game with you. And with Vincent's special handling, no need for a table! The deck allows you to reveal up to 8 different Pretty Little Men. No memory work, the deck shows everything you need to know. Nothing more to add. Very visual and graphic. Instant reset…£29.99

BLACK & WHITE DIE IMPOSSIBOLT This a great item from Tora Magic. The Magician displays a solid nut and magician begins by showing a large black die bolt, a small metal tube, and a with white spots to the audience. The die is metal container with a plug lid. covered for a moment with a black five sided The small tube is placed on to cover. After a snap of the fingers the cover is the shaft of the bolt and the nut is lifted and shown empty, the spectators are tightened firmly on to the bolt thus trapping the surprised to discover that the die has metal tube. The bolt is lowered into the metal magically changed colour and is now brilliant container at fingertips, the audience are able to white with black spots! The see the imprissioned tube on the nut and bolt right cover is placed over the up to the last second. The lid is placed on top die once more and the sealing the nut and bolt inside. After a moment of magician snaps his fingers deep concentration, the lid is removed from the twice. The cover is lifted container and the contents are tipped into the and shown again, this time spectators hand. The nut has magically the die has exploded into unthreaded itself from the bolt! And EIGHT smaller black and white dice! This is a EVERYTHING can be examined! Totally self stunning effect and would make a fantastic contained, no threads, no electronics, no sleight addition to your die box routine…£145.00… of hand. Very easy to do and perfect to carry with SPECIAL PRICE…£95.00 you…£15.00…SPECIAL PRICE…£10.00

ELITE RAINBOW DECK How can such an incredible knock out effect be so easy to do? This will quickly become one of your favourite effects. The magician introduces a very unusual deck, all of the cards has different back design and colour. The Magician places two cards face up to act as predictions. Two cards are now selected at random by spectators, and amazingly, the selected cards prove to be the ‘mates’ of the predictions, for example, let’s say, the Four of Clubs and the Four of Spades, and the Six of Diamonds with the Six of Hearts. Not only do the faces match, but, the backs do too! For the knockout climax, the deck is spread face up, and is seen to consist entirely of duplicate Jack of Clubs cards! The spectators have managed to locate the only matching cards in the deck ! All the cards are top quality playing cards from The US Playing Card Company and Limited edition decks. Another MERLINS Exclusive effect…£20.00

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Ali Cardabra’s Crazy Card Penetration Here is a little beauty! From the moment I first saw a magician do the sword basket I was hooked on ‘penetration’ effects. I just love the idea of giving the illusion that one solid object can be passed through another solid object! This is a card effect that works perfectly using playing cards or even jumbo cards and can be performed just about anywhere. Two court cards are hinged together to make a folder, they have two holes pierced through them so that a cord or ribbon may be pushed through. A third card has a slot in it that lines up with the holes in the cards. The folder cards are displayed and the slot card is put between them. Then a thin cord is pushed through all the cards. The folder is opened up to show that the slot card really is on the cord. The folder is closed again and very slowly the slot card is pulled out of the folder leaving the cord running through. ....Sounds impossible , but it works...... Although..... There is a little subterfuge along the way! If you look at the photograph of the folder carefully you will see that I have been very selective about the cards I use. I have chosen two black Kings. The reason is that the King which makes the back of the folder has a pretty straight line across it’s middle! I simply took a very sharp knife and cut along the line between the two punched holes. Because of the beautiful artwork on the front and back of the playing cards it is almost impossible to see that one King is actually split! I show the folder back and front using a fake turn over move: As I turn the folder over I also twist it over between my fingers showing the same side twice! I put the slot queen card in the folder ( with the cut king at the front. ) then I demonstrate what is about to happen by passing the cord in through the front . I can open it and pull the cord to show the cord passing through the folder proving that it is impossible for the slot queen to come off. I pull the cord out and once more show the folder. I simply turn over the folder and replace the slot queen . This time the cut King is on the back. I pass the cord in from the front. I open the folder to show that the slot card is actually penetrated by the cord then I insert my finger between the slot card and the back of the folder. As I close it I pull in the cord and it automatically pulls through the split card at the back and through the slot card stopping at the front of the folder! All that remains is a bit of acting as I pull the out slot card. Then I pull the ribbon slowly from the front and it really looks as though it is passing through the whole folder. Then the folder can be opened and flashed back and front giving no clue to how it was done !

The display, showing the Queen trapped between the two kings

Showing the secret slit between the two holes in the King of Spades

If you would like to see Ali performing this effect, check out his You Tube Video

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FIVER SPECIALS!!! Order any of the effects below for only FIVE POUNDS EACH!!!

ODD SPOT Six cards are placed face-down on the table. A spectator freely chooses ANY card. When he turns his card over, it has a large red dot on it. The remaining cards are shown, they all have a large black dot on then. The spectator managed to select the only ODD CARD! The magician offers to repeat the feat. This time the spectator selects a black card, Oops! looks like the magician has ‘messed up’ But wait, The five remaining cards are now all shown to have a large red dot on them! The spectator has managed to select the only ODD CARD again! It does not matter which card is selected, it is always the odd one out. A sleight-less miracle you will carry with you, always ready to perform. ONE BY ONE The magician shows four playing cards of like value, lets say, the four sevens, clubs, hearts, spades and diamonds. The cards are squared up, when the cards are spread again the club card has magically turned face down. The cards are squared and re-spread again, this time the club is back face up and the heart has turned face down. The process is repeated twice more until all four suits have turned over and back one by one. Throughout this sequence the cards are seen to have blue backs. However, when the cards are shown one by one they all have red backs! This is a strong effect in itself, but, imagine the spectators surprise when all four cards change again into four completely different pictorial backs!! WILD WABBITS The classic Wild Cards effect with cards depicting magicians top hats and magical rabbits. The magician begins by placing eight cards with top hats on them onto the table, four face up and four face down. He is left holding one final card which has the image of a magical rabbit on it. He rubs one of the face down hat cards with the rabbit card and the hat magically transforms into a rabbit! This is repeated three more times causing the hats to change into rabbits. The magician now turns his attention to the four face up hat cards, by bringing the hat card into contact with two rabbit cards causes the hat to transform into a rabbit. This is again repeated until the magician is left with NINE RABBIT CARDS!...

WILD CARD WIPE-OUT Seven cards are shown and dealt out, six of the cards are duplicates, lets say, six queen of hearts. The seventh card is a blank face card. Three of the queens are placed face down and three are face up. One of the face up queens is brought into contact with the blank card whereupon the queen instantly vanishes leaving the card totally blank! This is repeated with one of the face down cards with the same result. One by one the cards are ‘wiped out’ leaving you with seven blank cards!! 3 CARD MONTE This classic mind-boggling swindle can be learned and performed in a matter of minutes! The effect is simple, clean and virtually self-working. Three cards are openly displayed on both sides - two black (loser cards) and a red Ace (the winner). But, no matter how slowly and fairly the cards are shown, the Ace of Spades repeatedly vanishes, from right in front of the spectator's eyes, only to reappear in the most unlikely of places! After the surprise finish.

Merlins Mail 8 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 SUPER VANISHING DIE JAKS OR BETTER- The Tora Vanishing Die has been one of our best sellers Collectors Workshop from the Tora range over the years, and now its back and The performer better than ever. This new distributes blank model is made of high quality business card sized material to last many years. It slips to the audience comes complete with a beautiful with the request that pedestal stand adding to the visual element of the they be inscribed with effect. First, the magician shows the audience a a message, drawing giant die (21cm by 21cm) the die is tapped to or some geometric show that it is solid, and revolved to allow the symbol and signed. A spectator is invited audience a good view all around. Then the die is to select one slip, at random, and seal it in covered with a cloth. After making a magical an envelope.The envelope is then sealed gesture, the cloth is pulled away and the die has (by the spectator) between two metal completely vanished! The die could transform into plates held together with a bolt and wing doves, a rabbit, a bowl of fish, sweets, sponge nut.The plates, themselves suspended balls etc. This is a really strong effect that your from a polished chrome chain, are audience will remember long after your show is returned to the performer. Performer over!…£245.00…SPECIAL OFFER…£195.00 stands before a large easel and, gently swinging the pendulum back and forth, (or the spectator can do this), and unerringly HOUDINIS GREAT ESCAPE duplicates the message or design and the signature on the large tablet. The by Mark Lee spectator who created the message The magician displays three verifies its complete accuracy. And cards, one with a picture of the remember this, the performer NEVER famous escapologist ‘Houdini’ touches the selected card, never touches and two others with pictures of the sealed envelope and he does NOT ask turn of the century ‘constables’. The three cards any probing questions. This is a wholly are placed together, with ‘Houdini’ in the middle, unique and remarkably pretty effect. without any ‘moves’ whatsoever, the three cards It is suitable for close up or stage. The are given to a spectator to hold. A handkerchief is concept is diabolical. It is the product of now placed over the three cards. The magician the mind of a man who cared deeply about will now illustrate how Houdini could escape from his craft and about stunning the most impossible situations. The handkerchief entertainment. You will carry this effect is removed and the spectator is asked to examine with you as you do your most prized the cards which they are holding, imagine the possessions. You will perform it with stunned expression on their face when they confidence and great satisfaction. You will discover that only two cards remain – Houdini has be remembered for it. Comes complete gone! You now reproduce Houdini from your with leather wallet, satin silver finish pocket, wallet or anywhere you choose. All the powder coated metal plates, chrome chain, cards can be fully examined without ‘Houdin’s’ sample envelopes and complete secret being revealed! No Threads. No Magnets. instructions. No sticky Stuff. No flap cards. Easy to perform. Highly recommended…£125.00 Another MERLINS Exclusive effect…£15.00 [email protected]

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ODD by Vinny Sagoo TRIPLE DRAWER BOX A TRULY ODD TRICK! The Tora Triple Drawer Box is the perfect You introduce 7 cards and an way for you to magically produce a envelope with 'ODD' multitude of different items. And, it can be instructions. The spectator done again! and again! follows the ODD instructions Each time you open the drawer, an item (or eliminating all but one card, multiple items) can be found inside. Remove which is a completely free them, close the drawer, choice. When that card is turned over, it is a royal and BAM! New items card. When the envelope is turned over, it states: appear in the drawer! "YOU WILL PICK A ROYAL CARD" Holes in the side of the The envelope is then opened, and a card drops drawer makes the illusion out, which MATCHES the odd card exactly. even more deceptive. For the finale, all of the other cards are turned You can even over and are completely DIFFERENT. TRANSFORM items - place objects in the FULLY EXAMINABLE, EASY TO DO, VIDEO drawer, close the drawer, and when opened AND WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS, SELF again, something else appears instead. This WORKING, USPCC CARDS, EXTRA STICKERS looks great! Highly recommended…£115.00 INCLUDED…£14.95 Special Offer…£75.00

DICE PHENOMENON ACES FROM THE FORE Wow, what a find, original vintage stock from Germany. This is a very by Steven Tucker clever effect to carry around This is a visual, eye-popping, with you and is ideal for any Ace EXPLODING routine!The magician and particularly special Bicycle branded good as a mentalism style gimmicks provided allow you to effect. The magician presents take a Four of Hearts and a set of 5 dice, each dice has proceed to tear the Ace of Hearts a 3 digit number on each straight out of it. One second side. He explains that rolling you're holding the Four of Hearts, then next you all 5 dice presents several have the Ace of Hearts and the Three of Hearts. thousand different Then you tear the Ace of Diamonds from the Three combinations of numbers that could be of Hearts, leaving you with the Two of Spades (well, arrived at. The magician then asks a you are looking for BLACK aces now).To finish you spectator to roll all 5 dice and begin pull the Ace of Spades from the Two of Spades, adding the numbers. They can use a leaving you with the Ace of Clubs... and - voila - calculator (or use the calculator on their YOU HAVE RIPPED ALL FOUR ACES FROM A phone) and add up the totals of numbers SINGLE CARD! Fast and furious, this virtually self- on top of the 5 dice.Within seconds the working stunner makes the perfect opening for ANY magician writes the answer a piece of set of card routines. Learn not only the cunning paper or his business card, the spectator principle and how to use the devious gaffs, but is still putting the numbers into the master advanced handlings, regular deck variations calculator! When the spectator has and even a borrowed, shuffled deck impromptu finished the magician is proved to be version. PLUS - As a MEGA bonus, Aces From The correct. Instantly repeatable, incredibly Fore just happens to finish with you set and ready to clever and once you know the secret it is perform one of the greatest four Ace tricks of all very simple to perform…£15.00 time... and WE TEACH YOU HOW TO DO IT!!!… £18.99…Special Price…£14.99

Merlins Mail 10 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 BUZZKILL by John Bannon COLORFOOL Buzz Kill is a brilliant bit of commercial This is a precision hand- magic that packs small (just a thin packet crafted gimmick for of cards) but delivers a mighty wallop. insanely visual magic. The nine specially printed cards make a With this method you will compact, self-contained routine that will be able to make a card slip in your pocket or wallet, and will change, appear, always be ready to perform. Like all the disappear, as many best packet tricks, this is super engaging (with a fantastic times as you want without any kind of narrative hook), fooling as all hell, easy to perform and reset. The gimmick has been designed FUN! John Bannon has been performing it since it's to be used in real close up conditions inception in 1994, and you'll see immediately why it has but also works perfectly for social lasted two plus decades in his repertoire. medias. In a nutshell: Visual, Ready to The included in-depth tutorials will teach you Bannon's go out of the box, No flap, Instant reset, tried and tested handling for this routine, plus a 'Fractal' Full routine taught. "Very visual, very version (where you end completely clean and sharp, a gimmick that fits a lot of examinable) and an 'Oil & Queens' handling that adds a routines, adapt it according to your lovely visual display at the start as you show the cards. imagination."- Bernard Bilis. ”Colorfool is This is a killer slab of magic that will drop in your pocket, very smart, clean and more importantly and is sure to be a smash hit wherever you perform… VISUAL. Don't hesitate, this is very £20.00…SPECIAL PRICE…£15.00 good."- Mickael Chatelain…£26.95 ENIGMA CHEST II A spectator is invited to call out any one of the ESP symbols. The choice is completely free and there is absolutely no force of any kind. The performer now directs attention to a beautiful wooden box that has been in full view the whole time and states that before the performance he wrote a prediction and placed it inside the wooden box. The performer then slides the drawer open revealing a single scroll of paper inside and invites a spectator to remove and read what is written on it. Surprisingly, the prediction inside the box perfectly matches the chosen ESP symbol! It is an entirely one-man prediction system with no off stage assistant required! The box is completely self-contained and no extra equipment is required! The box remains in full view at all times, and the effect can be performed at any time during the performers show! The method is truly a mechanical marvel with no electronics or pre-show work required! There is absolutely no force of any kind and the effect can be immediately repeated, if desired! The engineering behind this effect is absolutely ingenious and hundreds of hours have gone into the development of this mechanical marvel! The brass & spring mechanism inside is highly elaborate due to a consequence of the manufacturing processes and the system can hold up to 6 predictions. It takes over 30 hours of workmanship to create one Enigma Chest due to the mechanism involved. MERLINS EXCLUSIVE OFFER You will also receive a special Bicycle deck and Mark Lee’s routine…£295.00 DOUBLE PRODUCTION CRYSTAL BOX Here's a great production box that can magically produce items TWICE! The productions happen VISUALLY without any cover! You begin by showing an elegant crystal clear box to the audience. Suddenly and visually, colourful flowers appear, filling the box! The flowers are removed so that the box is once again empty. Then, wham! The box is now filled with money - loads of bank notes! The productions look amazing. Other production items can be used to suit many different presentations. Brilliantly designed to also ‘pack flat’ for storage and transporting…£150.00…Special Offer…£100.00 Merlins Mail 11 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 MINI MIRACLE HORSIN’ AROUND The magician introduces a by Nick Trost prediction in the form of single Three cards are shown, each unknown playing card inside an envelope. The prediction is left with a part of a cute, topless in full view. Six different mini pin-up girl-there's her head, playing cards are laid upon the her middle, and her bottom! table face up. A spectator is The head and middle are given an entirely free choice (no force) of any of dealt face down on the table, and the bottom the mini cards. The magician removes the is inserted back out partway into your pocket. prediction card from the envelope, but, it DOES You now ask someone where the middle is. NOT match the spectators selected card! They say, "On the table . . ." But you remove Feigning embarrassment, the magician the card from your pocket and show it is now exclaims that the backs of the cards match! the middle! The middle is placed between the The backs DO MATCH, and the spectators will two cards on the table. The big surprise be surprised to see that the remaining five mini cards have different back colour, their selection comes when you now offer to reveal the is the only one that matches! But wait, when complete picture. The cards are turned up the prediction card is turned back face up it has and-instead of the girl-there's now a picture of magically transformed to match the face of the a shabby horse . . . you've just been Horsin' selection!! Everything can be examined. Very Around! A great bar and party gag. Good for a easy to do. No sleight of hand…£12.00 laugh every time. Really easy to do…£10.00

ANIMAL TAROT SUPER PLAY IT A fantastic coincidence effect STRAIGHT that is great for all ages. Animals, colours and a puzzle. by Simon Lovell It's a no-sleight trick with a big This version of John surprise reveal. Check out the Bannon's Play It Straight video and you'll see how it all Triumph is super easy and comes together. You show the faces and backs very magical! A spectator of a packet of oversized cards and state, "Think chooses a card and keeps hold of it - the rest of a number between one and ten, and I'll deal of the deck is shuffled into a face-up and exactly that number of cards on the table, face face-down mega mess. You snap your up." Any number is named (no force) and the fingers, and spread through - somehow ALL dealing begins. You stop when that number of the face-up cards are all the Diamonds... and cards is dealt. You show the selection. The in numerical order! However, your spectator cards are turned over and pieced together. And tells you the heart-breaking news... they guess what? The design magically matches the didn't choose a Diamond! One magic snap name of the animal they selected earlier! later, and you save the day - suddenly the Coincidence or is it magic? That's the fun of face-up Diamonds have all changed into the Animal Tarot. It's by the Other Brothers, so you Spades, in numerical order, with one card know it's clever, practical and easy to do. In fact, missing - the spectator's! No sleight of hand. it's so easy to do that the spectator can even Easy to do. Includes gimmicked Bicycle deck, deal the cards themselves! Includes Animal full instructions and routine, and online video Tarot cards and online instructions…£20.00 performance and explanation…£18.00

www.merlinswakefield.co.uk Merlins Mail 12 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 ULTIMATE AMBITION by Daryl The Ultimate Ambition Improved is just perfect for the finish to The Ambitious Card. After performing your favourite Ambitious Card routine, you offer to take things a step further by performing it once again under the most IMPOSSIBLE TEST CONDITIONS! The deck is wrapped and tied with a piece of rope whilst several spectators sign the chosen card on BOTH SIDES. The signed selection is FAIRLY placed in the MIDDLE of the deck BY THE SPECTATOR!! Without ANY moves whatsoever, the selection magically rises to the top! The best part is, this very special gimmick does it all. That's right, the gimmick does 100% of the work... These special Ultimate Ambition Improved (UAI) gimmicks have been expertly made with the United States Playing Card Company, Bicycle Rider back cards. Comes complete with UAI gimmick, rope and DARYL'S detailed instructions including: His personal, updated routine, insight and handling to this classic effect (Online). BONUS! As a bonus, you will receive Gregory Wilson's personal walk-around routine using the ingenious UAI gimmick. Gregory covers all the details on how to build this effect to its maximum impact! DARYL used this amazing effect to win the GOLD MEDAL for Card Magic at F.I.S.M…£34.99 MENTAL DICE by Anverdi This is one of the most popular effects being sold today. This is the most up-to- date, innovative version available. "AMAZING! I can see so many possibilities with this!"-Shin Lim. "OMG! This feels like it was developed by Steve Jobs!"- Richard Sanders. ”Your jaw will drop the moment you remove the lid off the box. And when you start playing with this incredible product - your jaw will drop again!! The design - from packaging to product, is amazing!” - Menny Lindenfeld. You hand out three dice, each of a different colour. Even though your back is turned, you know with confidence which number has been chosen on EACH coloured die. This classic effect has been 100% upgraded with today's modern technology and materials. However, the possibilities are endless. Way beyond the typical "I know your number" routines. And we included some creative routines to get you started. "Mental Dice will offer the astute performer an endless number of high- impact, direct mind reading routines that will astonish and entertain. "- Luke Jermay. The dice are standard "Gaming" size. Each measuring only 0.625 Inches / 1.58 Centimetres! These are 100% standard looking dice raising no suspicion when used. They can be rolled together or in a cup without worries of chipping them. The in-depth tutorials include everything you need to know about your Mental Dice. PLUS 7 amazing routines to get you started that go WAY beyond the normal, "I can guess the number on your die”…£269.99

MERLINS EXCLUSIVE OFFER receive a custom Bicycle card case and holder designed to conceal your reader completely FREE of charge when you purchase this product from us. Deck and holder retails separately for £25.00 Mental Dice Deck Gimmick.

COMPUTER MIND READING CARDS Instantly know the card in a spectators mind! Imagine ... a spectator is given eight plastic cards with pictures of playing cards randomly distributed on them, and asked to think of a card. The spectator keeps all the cards which show a picture of the mentally selected card and hands the others to you. You pay no attention to them and place them aside. You then instantly name the card in the spectators thoughts. No hesitation, No fishing. Easy to do. This is hot! Includes silk screened cards, protective vinyl sleeve and instructions!…£12.00

Merlins Mail 13 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 DELUXE MAGIC SET A unique, special edition set celebrating the 30th anniversary of Marvin’s Magic that contains professional magic tricks hand-picked by Marvin himself. Marvin’s made just 3,000 of these top-selling sets, so it’s become a collector’s item already! Marvin’s have taken magic sets to the next level to mark 30 years of Marvin’s Magic! This set features over 100 definitive magic tricks and professional-quality equipment even Marvin would be thrilled to receive! The limited edition Deluxe Box of Tricks comes beautifully presented in a unique, double-layered black- and-gold display case with red flock-fleeced interior. As a bonus to the quality props supplied you also get an exclusive Marvin’s Magic Masterclass. Learn from top professional magicians Andy Nyman, Pete Wardell and Marc Paul as they each perform their unique interpretations of routines from this set…Merlins Special Price…£99.95

AVALANCHE by Paul Harris Paul's JOYOUS new EXAMINABLE Gimmicked Card Case starts off with... THE AVALANCHE BLIZZARD. Instantly transform your cards into an examinable BLANK DECK... with NO DECK SWITCH! EVERY pro we've shown this to has replaced their old Blizzard with AVALANCHE... as it's the easiest, most convenient, most direct Blizzard effect you can do. (We even give you a full deck of blank cards!) And there's even MORE SECRETS buried in your AVALANCHE... WITH A NORMAL DECK! THE AVALANCHE PERFECT FORCE: Do an absolutely perfect worry-free force... with the deck held by the spectator! She just hands you ANY card from the normal deck... and the deed is done. THE AVALANCHE REAL- DEAL VANISH: Drop the spectator's card onto the deck... and the card is instantly gone! It's really genuinely completely freaking no longer in the deck... which can be immediately examined. THE AVALANCHE NO-PALM CARD TO ANYWHERE: After you've vanished her card... the spectator SCREAMS... when she discovers her card in her pocket or under a phone! THE AVALANCHE SUPER EASY CARD SWITCH: No double lifts, no palming, no extra anything. Simple display the card... drop it onto her hand... and now it's a different card! The AVALANCHE Gimmick is completely self-contained inside the card case... which can be fully examined inside and out when in the "locked" position. Use the AVALANCHE case as your normal everyday card case. It looks and feels like a normal case. No reset needed... so it's always ready to Astonish. No extra bits or pieces to add or ditch. It's all secretly built into your AVALANCHE case. No card skills required. Anyone can learn to AVALANCHE in under 3 minutes! AVALANCHE: Complete with self-contained examinable card case, tutorial download and a full deck of blank face "Blizzard" cards…£32.50

GHOST TAG PRO by Peter Eggink A Piece of Magic You Can Carry With You Everywhere. Inside a key ring there is a picture of a gentleman with a face-down card in his pocket. The key ring is removed from your keys and handed to your spectator. A regular deck is shuffled, and the spectator selects a card. The card is turned face-up, let's say it's the 3 of Clubs. The spectator turns over the key ring and the card in the picture is now the 3 of Clubs. This is INSIDE the key ring. It is a brand-new method for making the picture change inside the key ring. Every key ring is custom-built and comes complete with a house key, the ghost tag key ring and step-by-step video instructions. You will love the method. IT'S INGENIUS!!…£39.99

Merlins Mail 14 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 ECONOMICON BOOK TEST by Al Smith Two spectators are given a book each. They can fully examine them, read some passages if they wish and confirm they appear to be ordinary paperback books. A third spectator is asked to call out any page number (there are 125 pages in each book). The spectators turn to the freely selected page and note the first word. You now tell each of them what the word is! Direct, no fishing, no questions. You can then ask a spectator to open there book to any page, and select any word they wish. As there are over 30000 words in the book, you ask them to call out the first letter of the word. Instantly, you can tell them the word they have chosen! This is a fantastic book test by Al Smith. No difficult calculations, always direct, no fishing for clues, always ready to perform. Ideal for walk around, stage or cabaret. Highly recommended and used by many leading professionals. As used by Dynamo on the 'London Underground'. Direct mindreading at its best and great value for money! "This book test is a bargain" - Dave Jones "Thanks for producing this. It's a dream to perform and gets fantastic reactions" - MH Cheshire "Hi.,Just bought the "Economicon" off you today. "Absolutely brilliant" PL - Preston "If I was still doing mind-reading this would be straight in the act" - Duncan Trillo Another MERLINS Exclusive effect…£80.00 SUPER CHINESE COIN SET This is a beautiful set of Chinese coins in a large one-dollar size. It includes 9 different coins: one expanded steel shell, 4 black coins, one red coin, one blue coin, one yellow coin, one double-side yellow and blue coin, and one special purse. Marcel, a close-up expert Argentinean magician, created many amazing routines with this set. These are included in the video instructions. The routines are: Matrix, Coin Across, Wild Coin and ribbon and Chinese coins routines. With this set, the only limit is your imagination. You will love performing and astonishing your audience with this set of coins. This is another great product of Tango Magic…£120.00…SPECIAL OFFER…£90.00

HOUDINI COIN ESCAPE This is a great effect. You show three coins, two silver ones, and one copper, and a shoelace. The three coins all have a small hole in the centre. You take the shoelace and tie a couple of knots at one end, big enough so that the coins will cannot pass over them. You then thread one of the silver coins upon the shoelace, and slide it down to the end to rest against the knot. You now thread the copper coin upon the lace and finally, the second silver coin. The copper coin is now imprissioned upon the lace, sandwiched between the two silver coins. You give the shoelace to the spectator to hold. You close your hand over the coins for a second. Instantly, the copper coin is now free from the shoelace, and the two silver coins can be seen to be still in place. Everything can now be examined! If you wish, the copper coin can be caused to vanish from between the silver ones and reappear wherever you desire! Superb, precision made coins make this amazing effect virtually self working…£35.00

ULTRA COLLECTORS The four tens are removed from the deck, and tabled face up. Three cards are selected, and lost in the deck. The tens are placed face up on the deck, and a magical gesture is made. Instantly, the tens are spread and three facedown cards are seen interlaced between them. THEY ARE THE SELECTED CARDS ! Comes with instructions and specially printed Bicycle cards…£10.00 Merlins Mail 15 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 Instant Cube by Chris Wardle The performer patters on the theme of puzzles and says that he wanted to buy a particular puzzle cube as a gift but could not find the particular one anywhere, not in the shops or online, so had to resort to magic. Recalling the event, a small gift bag is shown and a clear, 5cm by 5cm by 5cm cube paperweight is displayed and placed inside the bag. Liquids are now poured into the bag to provide a range of colours and the magic words are spoken. Reaching into the bag a Rubik’s cube is removed – the desired gift – and the gift bag is torn open to show that it is empty! Tricks with a certain puzzle cube are increasingly popular and there are now many variations on the Rubik’s cube puzzle itself. With this in mind, I was thinking about how the prop could be used in a virtual environment, as with most routines, the key element is a spectator interacting with you by mixing up and handling a cube – not something we can do at the time of writing – so how else could the prop be used? There are several effects on the market which make the magic possible thanks to a cube ‘shell’ and this is what I have deployed here. (I won’t go into naming effects, as part of buying the trick is the method of course, but do your research and you will find various versions on the market, if you do not own one already.) Using a small postcard-sized height gift bag, insert the cube shell with the open end uppermost beforehand. (You display the bag, but don’t show the inside at the start!) You now need the ‘paperweight’, which is actually a clear, acrylic presentation or gift box which I found on Amazon. (There are various versions available, get one with an open end or a lid, not a closed cube. 5cm by 5cm by 5cm, as mentioned above, will fit inside the shell and works well. This clear cube can be rotated freely in your hand and because it is clear, the open end is not noticeable. It looks like a glass cube paperweight, which is exactly what you want your audience to think. The liquids you pour in are also not as innocent as they appear. The first ‘liquid’ is milk, to create the ‘white’ side of the cube. Here you use a 1-pint plastic milk carton, washed out and dried, which contains some slush powder. Through the semi-transparent sides of the milk carton it looks just like a little milk and if you hold your hand around the carton and pour it in very close to the top of the gift bag, no-one will see that it isn’t! This, of course, is poured into the open-end of the clear plastic cube inside the shell and will solidify the other liquids you now pour in – making the cube safe to handle and remove at the end. You only need to pour a little liquid for the other colours and a long, thin, trickling pour can make a little liquid look like a lot. You can use bottles which apparently held food colouring, or drinks, such as cherryade for the ‘red’ side for example, lime cordial, orange juice, etc. and a little coca-cola for the black body of the cube. (Experiment with the brand of slush powder you are using and how much liquid you can add safely so that it all solidifies.) You now have everything secure, the liquid solidified inside the clear acrylic cube, inside the Rubik’s cube shell, which you then bring out altogether, keeping the open end at the side facing your body. It appears that you have turned a glass paperweight cube and a few coloured liquids into a Rubik’s cube and the bag can be pulled open and shown empty. Audiences are always impressed with liquid tricks as they know that you cannot palm liquids. (It is simply a matter of scooping out the solidified slush from the clear cube afterwards and disposing of it safely, rinsing out the clear cube and you are ready to go again. Be careful putting non-drinkable items into bottles, e.g. slush powder into a milk carton, and keep them safely stored. You do this at your own risk.) You could tie this in with any number of other cube-themed effects – several of which are sold by Merlin’s!

Merlins Mail 16 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 DREAM PSYCHOMETRY MIRACLE DOWSING RODS You'll be able to read the minds of your Imagine aiming this device at a row of spectator and guess the things that they envelopes, one of which contains a deeply desire. When a trick combines a clever coin inserted by a spectator. It will mathematical principle with devilishly find the envelope that contains constructed patter and the coin! Or - imagine aiming it at presentation it can become first- packets of cards, and it will rate mental magic. Carry this respond to the packet holding the trick anywhere you go; perform selected card. Then separate all it and amaze your friends. You the cards in that packet, and it will be surprised by the responds to ONE card - the spectator's strong reaction. The selected card! This intriguing magic trick magician displays a card with revolves around the mysterious theme of fourteen different items printed dowsing rods. Using two L-shaped metal rods, on it and asks a spectator to you will be able to locate a hidden coin, and a think of one of the items that he strongly selected card. Dowsing is an ancient divination desires. Then the magician brings out four method that attempts to locate hidden ground different cards all of which have some of the water and buried metallic ore. Practitioners of same items printed on them. Without looking dowsing hold two L-shaped metal rods in their at the cards the magician asks the spectator hands, gripping the short ends. The rods to look and see if the item he's selected is on remain parallel to each other as the dowser the cards. The spectator is then asked to walks around. When the dowser reaches an concentrate strongly on the item he's chosen. area where metallic ore is located, the two rods During this time, the magician who never saw respond by moving in a mysterious way. This the cards, reads the spectator's mind and trick imitates this uncanny phenomenon in a correctly divines the chosen item…£20.00 visual and fun demonstration…£15.95

INSTANT PORTRAIT CONSTELLATION You tip out twelve puzzle blocks from a box. This romantic card trick stems The blocks are separated into from the brilliant mind of creator two lots of six, six for the Mathieu Bich. When you shine spectator and six for yourself. light behind a photo of the night The blocks are printed with the sky, the twinkling stars in the famous image of the Vincent photo magically form themselves van Gogh self-portrait work of to spell out a selected card! The stars then art. Your six jumbled blocks are rearrange to spell out a second, and then a placed on the table top in no third selected card. This beautiful effect is particular order, and then covered. The made possible by a precision-crafted gimmick spectator is then asked to arrange their six that is created using the latest technology. blocks correctly to make up the portrait. The Using the torch function on your phone allows cover is removed from your blocks, amazingly, you to perform this effect any time, anywhere. they have miraculously rearranged Ask your spectators to select three cards from themselves to complete the portrait! This a pack of cards. Introduce the photo card that exceptional mystery enables you to instantly displays the night sky. Shine light from behind solve a jumbled puzzle without touching the and show that the constellations can twinkle. puzzle blocks. Thanks to a newly developed Suddenly - the twinkling stars form themselves gimmick, you can complete the six-block to spell out the first selected card! Moments puzzle without switching the pieces. No shells. later, the stars rearrange to spell out the This unique effect will amaze you as much as second, and third selected cards…£24.95 your audience!…£19.99 Merlins Mail 17 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 MERIDIAN RING CABINET by Magic Wagon The performer displays a beautiful wooden cabinet on all sides and removes the front cover showing it to be completely empty. He then places a ring onto the floor of the cabinet and replaces the cover. A brass sword is then shown to be perfectly solid and inserted through the slots on the sides of the cabinet allowing both ends to remain in full view. Now, the performer snaps his fingers and immediately pulls the sword through the top of the cabinet revealing that the ring is now magically hanging on the brass sword! It is a stunning and inexplicable effect! Please do not confuse this with the classic Kenard’s Mystery Box or any other similar effects we have previously produced. The mechanical method of this latest version has been cleverly re- designed and is absolutely diabolical in operation and is practically self-working! The cabinet only, without the front cover in place, measures approximately 11.8 cm wide, 10.2 cm high and 10.2 cm deep and has been completely handcrafted from natural aged teak wood with a lightly distressed oil finish. The beautiful silver ring as shown is also included, however; the effect can also be performed with any normal ring providing it is about the same size and style of the one supplied…£295.00

MULTIPLYING WINE BOTTLES ORIGAMI RABBIT An all time classic reputation making effect. An empty glass Take out a napkin/tissue from and bottle are covered with two your pocket, hold it by your identical tubes. You snap you fingers fingertips, just give it a few and the bottle and glass have switched shakes, and places!! You perform this amazing automatically transposition until you "accidentally" it turns into a expose the "extra bottle". The Audience rabbit! Well, take great pleasure in this "accident" an ‘origami’ because they think the trick has failed... rabbit that is. This extra bottle is set aside and the trick is repeated but to Quick, visual, their amazement there is ANOTHER bottle under the magical and empty tube!! This bottle is taken out and the tube is shown self-working! empty once again. However, every time you place either of How many the empty tubes on the table ANOTHER bottle appears. times have you been asked the The trick becomes more about the appearing bottles and question ‘can you make a rabbit less about the transposition, as you frantically keep appear? well now you can, producing bottles, until your entire table is filled with quickly and easily. And, without TWELVE bottles!…£345.00…Special Offer…£195.00 the droppings!!…£22.99 BOXING MATCH V.2 This is amazing, we used to sell these many years ago but, it has been unavailable for ages. It is now back and better than ever! From Masuda, the creator of the incredible “WOW” effect. You remove a red reck from a red box, run through the cards and remove the two jokers. A card is now chosen by a spectator, let’s say, Jack of Clubs. The chosen card is shown freely and then placed into the empty card box, the spectators are able to keep their eyes on the card at all times. You now ‘flick’ the box and the box AND the chosen card instantly change colour to blue! But wait, thats not all, when the rest of the deck is spread it too has changed to blue. Finally, the two jokers are flipped over to show that they have also changed to blue! This looks absolutely incredible, super visual and perfect for on line shows…£31.95

Merlins Mail 18 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 Paul Gordon's Not Too Far

Here's a very easy but powerful trick for you: There are many versions of Stewart James's Further Than That (The James File) in print. In fact, I've published a few myself. A favourite of mine is in Gold Dust Companion. Many of the variations have complex set-ups, this one doesn't. This first appeared in my Tannen’s ’97 lecture notes. From the top of the deck: 10, J, Q, K, A of Spades, Xcard, 2, 2, 2, 2S. The patter is the standard 'further than that' patter. So, using the ten to twenty force, force the 2S. In other words, ask the spectator to name a number between ten and twenty. Assume she says fifteen. From the top of the deck deal fifteen cards. Place the deck aside and pick up the fifteen-card packet. Seeing as one plus five equals six, deal six cards and have the spectator remember the top card (the 2S) of the tabled packet. She returns it and you drop the in hand remainder on top. Pick up the fifteen-card packet and drop it onto the deck. Jog shuffle the deck retaining the top stock in situ. After a suitable pause for effect, name their card as being the Two of Spades. This is magical. Then spell t-w-o (three cards) to the table on your right. Slip cut the top card of the deck to centre or double-cut it to the bottom. Then, to the table on your left, spell s-p-a-d-e (five cards) and deal the sixth card (the last 's' of Spades) to the middle of the table. Reveal this card as the 2S and then reveal the other Twos and the royal flush by turning over the two tabled packets. This is a very direct handling of James’s original. Like Mirror-Skill (in Gold Dust Finale), it’s another trick that Allan Slaight had wished he had known about for inclusion in The James File.

You can find more Paul Gordon magic here, www.paulgordon.net

SPLIT FOCUS by Greg Wilson (Eisenhower) THE PERFECT WEAPON FOR EVERYDAY CARRY Split Focus is a visually striking coin routine that looks like a Hollywood special effect, where three silver dollars appear and disappear over and over and over. To look this good, it should take 10 years of arduous practice - unless you have the precision-made gimmicks, which do all of the hard work for you. In fact, the most difficult move is a simple false transfer! Split Focus comes with everything you need to assault the senses of any audience at a moment's notice: Three gorgeously handcrafted gimmicked coins. Online instructions for both two and three coin routines. The secret "retrieving/ditching device" to start and end perfectly clean. Also included is an arsenal of 12 original routines by Gregory Wilson and additional ideas by David Gripenwaldt and Justin Miller…£189.95…SPECIAL OFFER…£149.95 MIKAME CARD CASE Beautifully crafted from choice hardwood and finished with a high gloss stain, it's a true piece of art! You have a card selected from the EXAMINED deck. The card is replaced back into the deck and shuffled. Now the deck is cut in half and one half is selected to be placed inside the wooden card case. The spectator looks through the remaining half for their selected card, but it's not there.You begin to shake the card case until ONE card comes through the slot. Yes it's their Selected Card! Many Routines Possible! NO Double Cards! NO Gimmick Cards of Any Kind! Completely Examinable! Don’t miss this one…£49.95

Merlins Mail 19 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 DREAM TUNNEL by Mikame Dream Tunnel is THE transformation device, from the genius mind of Mikame, for your next routine. You can take pieces of blank paper or money and turn them into more money, coins, and even scarfs. You are only limited by your imagination. You can borrow a US 1 dollar from a spectator and ask them if they dream of more money. Send it down the Dream Tunnel. Tap on the Dream Tunnel and grab the money from the other end but it now has turned blank. Offer the blank piece of paper to the spectator and apologise to him that they didn’t dream hard enough for more money. The spectator refuses, so you place it back into the Dream Tunnel. The spectator dreams of his money back at least, the magician taps on the Dream Tunnel, and the US 1 Dollar is faithfully restored back to the original bill…£15.00

PRO DEMO MIKAME MONEY PRINTER PRO DEMO CENTRE Pure quality sets this apart from CENTRE all other versions of this This is a high class classic! A wide tape moves performance pad which will between two rollers arranged on grab attention and enhance upper and lower axis. Two any performance. A close up workers dream! knobs are used for turning the Complete with a internal drawer & Mikame rollers. Wand! Feed blank bill-sized slips of white paper into Perfect weight for quickly moving table to one side of the rollers, and REAL bills come table, yet built sturdy with the Mikame Craft out the other side. Borrow a dollar from a touch of class. The pull out drawer is already spectator, run it through the money printer and customised with sections to hold two a blank piece of paper appears. Apologise, separate card decks and two coin loading and hand the paper back to the spectator. Will squares. Also a built in section for the work with all currency! INCLUDED Mikame wooden magic wand Insert a blank piece of paper, turn the knob, with brass highlights. There's plenty of room and a dollar slips out the other side. for your other small props in the velvet lined Now borrow a dollar from the audience, insert drawer. it into the printer, and a five dollar-bill falls Measures 18 inches by 12 1/2 and 2 inches out. Put in the five, and a ten dollar-bill comes deep. Rounded wood sides with 'Easy-Grip' out. Now , take the piece of paper from the sides routed into each side. audience member whose dollar you have The top has a built in plush velvet pad for already changed, insert it into the printer and smooth coin & card routines…£179.95 his dollar appears at the other side…£114.95

MUJINZO BOX There are so many different kinds of production boxes in magic, but with most of these magic props, it is not possible for the audience to completely examine the apparatus used for the magic. The only possible way is either to exhibit the apparatus after something has been removed or altered, or to enlist a stooge. With the Mikame Mujinzo Box, you can hand the apparatus over to a spectator to have a thorough examination made, before, during, or after the performance depending on the kind of routine you decide to present. This original product made by Mikame Craft eliminates the use of the usual secret spaces, moving panels, black art, or swinging load bags for making the magical productions. Use with silks, flowers and even solid objects for production. This is amazing and has to be seen to be believed. Dimension Approximately 11 1/2" x 7 1/2" x 4 3/4" (29cm x 19cm x 12cm)…£179.95

Merlins Mail 20 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021

Here at MERLINS we have just added even more quality used magic books to our stocks. Many out of print and much sought after titles. Check out www.merlinswakefield.co.uk for more details and availability. If you are looking for a specific title, get in touch, we just may have what you’re looking for.

Below is a few titles from our large selection of quality used books

CLOSE UP SEDUCTIONS by Paul Harris…£25.00 13 STEPS TO MENTALISM by Corinda…£25.00 A MAGICAL LIFE (EDWARD GEORGE BROWN) by Paul Gordon…£20.00 AL KORANS LEGACY by Hugh Miller…£40.00 ARCARDIA by Roger Crosthwaite…£99.00 BEST OF BELCHER by Len Belcher…£24.99 BEST OF FRIENDS by Harry Lorayne…£40.00 CARD MAGIC OF NICK TROST by Nick Frost…£70.00 CLOSE UP AND PERSONAL by David Regal…£50.00 DEVICE AND ILLUSION by Jim Steinmeyer…£150.00 CY ENFIELDS ENTERTAINING CARD MAGIC by Lewis Ganson…£45.00 A HOST OF SURPRISES by Edwin Hooper…£45.00 RICE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF SILK MAGIC by Harold Rice…£45.00 IBIDEM VOL 2 by P. Howard Lyons…£45.00 JAY’S JOURNAL OF ANOMALIES by Ricky Jay…£45.00 JENNINGS ’67 by Richard Kaufman…£65.00 LAS VEGAS KARDMA by Allan Ackerman…£125.00 LIFE, DEATH AND OTHER CARD TRICKS by Robert E. Neale…£165.00 MAGIC CIRCLE MAGIC by Will Dexter…£30.00 THE MAGIC OF SLYDINI by Lewis Ganson…£50.00 MAGIC WITH FAUCETT ROSS by Lewis Ganson…£22.00 MAGIC ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY by Geoffrey Lamb…£12.00 MASTERING MAGIC by Walter B. Gibson…£15.00 McCOMB’S MAGIC (25 YEAR’S WISER) by Billy McComb…£55.00 MENDOZA PORTFOLIO No.1 by John Mendoza…£30.00 MY BEST by J.G. Thompson…£25.00 For many more titles click here

Merlins Mail 21 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 MENTAL ALPHABET CARDS Instantly know any letter in a spectator's mind! Imagine ... a spectator is given some plastic cards with letters randomly distributed on them, and asked to think of a letter. The spectator keeps all the cards which show a picture of the mentally selected letter and hands the others to you. You then instantly name the letter in the spectators thoughts! No hesitation, No fishing, easy to do. Includes silk screened cards, and instructions…£6.00

TORA RUBIK CUBE POOR MAN’S CASINO Magician clearly by Mathieu Bich shows a mixed You present a few pieces of paper that are up Rubik's Cube blank on both sides and cut to the size of to the audience "bank notes". You explain that you are he then puts it in going to play one of these "bills", and you an empty box. place it on the table. Then you shuffle a After a magical gesture, the Rubik's deck of cards and place it in a case that Cube is taken from the box and is has a slot on the back of it. Using it like a dealer shoe, you now solved! Each side of the cube deal the cards one by one, until the spectator says “stop" has a solid colour and is shown on the card stopped at is say, Four of Clubs. When the blank all of its sides to the audience. Then ‘bill’ is turned over the name of the card in now printed for the finale the magician puts the across the bill!. cube back into the empty box again. Very Easy to perform. The Spectator can say "stop" at any This time, when the Rubik cube is time. The cards can be seen flicking by through the slot in removed from the box, the cube has the case as you deal the cards. You can use your usual magically changed to a solid yellow case to perform the effect. cube! Can be shown before and after Extremely impressive, even when performed on magicians each change! Ver easy to perform! or ‘virtually’ over the internet. …£149.95…SPECIAL OFFER… Ideal to combine with a trick calling for a forced card in £100.00 extremely clean conditions…£30.00 HUNGARIAN GUESSING GAME Peter Kane was a creative genius, responsible for many tricks and plots - including the classic 'Wild Card' routine. The Gypsy Curse (AKA the Hungarian Guessing Game) is Peter's definitive take on the plot. It's a stunning routine that starts as a simple 'con' and ends with a breath-taking transformation of all the cards, which are then shown front and back! Includes online video instructions, special Bicycle cards, and as a LIMITED-EDITION BONUS - a set of the old 'vintage' style cards that were actually sold by Peter HIMSELF! In effect, Seven playing cards are shown to be six black spot cards and one King of Diamonds. The proprietor of a game of chance at an old traveling country fair divides the seven cards into two groups and asks the spectators to wager as to which group contains the Diamond. An elderly Gypsy woman, having wagered and lost, placed a curse upon the man and his game. When next he attempts to operate his game it is found that all the cards are winners! The cards are fanned to show all the faces are Diamond Kings and all the backs are normal!…£15.00

Here at MERLINS we have an ever increasing range of Quality Used Magic. If you are looking for a particular effect, get in touch, we just might have it. [email protected] 01924 339933 Merlins Mail 22 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 GHOST FLIGHT by Peter Duffie COLOUR BLIND The ULTIMATE 'Assembly' Style routine! by Gordon Bean Join Liam Montier as he teaches With nearly no assistance from you one of the most visual and the magician, the spectator shocking card tricks EVER! performs the impossible: Your spectator examines eight Separating the black and red double blank cards, four regular cards from each other, without cards, and a postcard - everything ever looking at the faces of each card. The is as it should be. The postcard is kicker comes when the spectator realises set aside, and the spectator can that they've also separated the blue and even place their hand (or their drink, or anything green cards from the reds and blacks. Yes, they like) on top to keep it safe. Meanwhile, the you heard correctly. There are four colours in regular cards are all sandwiched between the this specially printed deck - red, black, blue blank cards, and they begin to vanish, one at a and green. A great variation on a classic time, under everyone's nose! When all four have effect. Instant reset. No sleight of hand melted away, leaving only the blank cards, the required. No table needed. Fully Examinable. spectator themselves lifts their hands, turns over Comes complete with special red, black, the postcard and reveals ALL FOUR regular blue, and green deck!! and easy to follow cards! Includes Bicycle blank and regular cards, instructions. Amazing value…12.95 postcard, gorgeous printed instruction booklet detailing the full routine, and online streaming video explanation! I think of this trick as a kind of ATM by Michael Murray 'Ace Assembly' but much more visual, ATM combines a very clever mix of principles commercial and deceptive. They examine and ideas which will allow you everything at the beginning, it's visual and is a to seemingly determine a VERY fast reset!…£18.00 spectators exact PIN number. The spectator thinks of their PIN number, you openly DOUBLE NEST PRISON BOX write four digits for the The magician borrows a coin audience to see. When these and it is marked/signed by a numbers are shown to the spectator. The marked coin is spectator they react in held under an handkerchief by a amazement confirming for the audience that spectator. The magician hands a they are looking at their PIN number. sealed, round brass box to a Taking things a step further you are also able second spectator to hold on to. to remove the entire memory of events from A magical gesture is made over your participants mind. This 32 page book the coin and the handkerchief is details every nuance of the routine whist pulled away and clearly shown, the coin has giving you an additional set of tools to add to instantly vanished. Without the magician your arsenal. Points to remember: The four touching the brass box, the spectator begins to numbers are never switched and are unscrew the lid. When the lid is removed the genuinely shown to the spectator. The spectator discovers another brass box inside. spectator confirms for everyone that they are This box also has a lid screwed in place. When looking at their PIN number. The spectator the spectator opens the second box they are then genuinely has no recollection of the stunned to discover the marked coin inside! You events which have just transpired. Both the can make a borrowed ring, a signed coin or a spectator and the audience are left free to small billet of paper with a prediction appear talk after the event. Easy to perform. Suitable inside the boxes. Supplied with special black for Close-up & Stage…£27.95…SPECIAL satin handkerchief for the vanish…£55.00 PRICE…£19.95

Merlins Mail 23 Spring Edition Issue 3 2021 NEW SLIMLINE BILL TUBE The Bill Tube, in one form, or another, has been on sale for so many years that it has become a classic piece of magic. The magician borrows a bank note from one of his spectators. The note is placed under an handkerchief and given to a spectator to hold. The magician then removes a small, sealed tube from his pocket and hands it to a second spectator.The borrowed note then vanishes! Directing the audience's attention to the sealed tube, the magician allows the spectator who has been holding it to open the tube. Inside is found the borrowed note! Our new Slimline Bill Tube eliminates the need for the traditional locking bar, padlock and keys. This makes the apparatus a lot less ‘bulky’ and, makes the tube much more acceptable and less ‘magic prop’ looking. The New Slimline Bill Tube you received consists of a precision made brass tube with a screw-on lid. The lid has a very long screw thread and takes a long time to unscrew. The tube is so well made that even under the closest scrutiny it appears that nothing could be inserted in the tube without the lid first being removed…£35.00

To order from this issue contact us either by post, e-mail, phone or online at www.merlinswakefield.co.uk. We accept all major credit cards or you can send a cheque/ postal order made payable to MERLINS. DUE TO INCREASED POSTAGE COSTS WE HAVE HAD TO MAKE A CHANGE TO OUR SMALL PARCEL RATE, THE FIRST IN OVER FIVE YEARS. PLEASE NOTE NEW POSTAGE RATES as follows: All items are sent at purchases risk unless insurance is paid. Large Letter rate add £2.95, Small Parcel Rate add £4.95 Signed For Service PLEASE NOTE RATES FOR HEAVIER AND BULKIER ITEMS: Over 2KG £12.95 Courier 48 Hour Delivery ALL ITEMS SENT AT PURCHASERS RISK UNLESS INSURANCE IS PAID Add £5.95 for insurance up to £500 PRICES ONLY VALID TILL 30th June 2021 (or whilst stocks last) Orders are checked and dispatched, on day of receipt where possible, items not in stock may take up to 28 days for delivery. Although we obtain proof of posting, goods are sent at purchase's own risk, unless insurance is paid. OVERSEAS PLEASE CONTACT US FOR POSTAGE CHARGES All items are correct at time of printing, but may be altered without notice.All offers are limited and may be withdrawn at any time. Due to the nature of magic, your main cost is the secret of the effect. This means that no item will be exchanged, except where the item is faulty, whereby it will be exchanged for the same item. FAULTY ITEMS MUST BE NOTIFIED TO US WITHIN 7 DAYS OF RECEIPT MERLINS 15 The Springs, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 1QE Tel : 01924 339933 email : [email protected] www.merlinswakefield.co.uk E & O excluded IF YOU NO LONGER WISH TO RECEIVE THIS FROM US: email [email protected] or call us on 01924 339933 and we will remove you from our list. If you have not purchased from us within the last 12 months we will automatically remove your details from our listings.

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