TOPS – Treasury of Illusions by Neil Foster ( 60 illusions – 1965 )

There are very few books in magic dealing with the subject of stage illusions. Most secrets and workshop plans or blueprints sell for several dollars for each illusion. For this reason we have delved into the past twenty-five years of The TOPS magazine (over 300 issues) and selected SIXTY of the finest illusions that have appeared in its pages. These are suitable for the modern stage magician, nightclub act and sideshow performer. Practical illusions to meet todays working conditions (none require old-fashioned stage traps, etc.) and many can be made at the cost of a few dollars. The sixty illusions run the gamut of stage effects figuratively and literally from A to Z, from the Artists Dream Illusion to the Zombi Girl Illusion with fifty-eight more in between covering a wide variety. There are principles of Black Art; a Levitation; three Penetration Illusions; four Comedy Illusions; four Double-Exchanges; five Escapes; six distinct Novelty-type illusions; seven methods for performing the famed East Indian Rope mystery; eight illusions for vanishing a human being and nineteen illusions designed for the appearance or production of one or more persons! To list a few: "The Big Opener"; "Motion Pictures Come To Life"; "Dunningers East Indian Rope Trick"; "A Television Production"; "Oriental Cabinets"; "Catch A Ghost"; "Vanishing Boy"; "The Pile Driver Illusion"; "Name Plates Illusion"; etc. In addition to the SIXTY illusions there are extra features such as four pages devoted to the building of a portable stage "back set"; Kellars original patter for his presentation of "The Levitation of The Princess Karnak"; rare newspaper advertising and publicity used by such world famous illusionists as Thurston, Dante, Nicola, Blackstone, etc.; two unusual lists of 'show and railroad requirements' for Howard Thurston's big show. Printed on quality stock the book measures 8 1/2 x 11 inches, 100 pages with over 150 illustrations and pictures and a full-color art cover, softbound. We take great pride in offering "TOPS TREASURY OF ILLUSIONS" to the magic fraternity. The secrets of most of these illusions are not obtainable anywhere else! Never before has such a complete and authoritative book on illusions been published. Compiled by Neil Foster.