Non Plus Ultra: Hofzinser's Salon Magic (Vol. 3 & 4)

Book by Magic Christian and Conjuring Arts Research Center

The highly-anticipated final installments in Magic Christian's magnum opus for one of the greatest magicians in history Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser. This a must-own set for any serious student of magic and the history of magic.

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 third volume of Non Plus Ultra: Hofzinser's Salon Magic presents many of the master's salon effects. The routines outlined, now classified as parlor magic, are meant to be performed for a slightly larger audience. Throughout the explanations of Hofzinser's numerous effects are newspaper clippings from the 1800's, Hofzinser's personal writings, and high quality pictures which bolster the explanations from simple tutorial to holistic comprehension of history and method. Also included in this volume is a look at Hofzinser's philosophy on magic, his use of psychology, and his link to the composition and implementation of music.

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 Included are the unpublished descriptions of George Heubeck's notebook. Heubeck is believed to be Hofzinser's most talented student, so it is natural to assume that many of Hofzinser's unpublished ideas were recorded in Heubeck's notebooks.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.

Totaling 766 pages, this large set of gorgeous hardcover books is an exhaustive production. It is filled with reproductions of rare photos and artwork to accompany the fascinating exploration of Hofzinser, the man and all his salon magic—all 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.