Reel Magic by Albenice | 1950s Mid-Century Sleight of Hand & Conjuring Rarities

Description

The 1950s were a golden era for amateur magicians and hobbyist conjurors, a time when magic clubs flourished and mimeographed newsletters, self-published guides, and mail-order trick books formed an underground network of knowledge. These mid-century manuals weren’t just how-to books — they were community artifacts, filled with earnest language, theatrical flourishes, and tricks designed to wow living room audiences and lodge hall crowds. Often written by practicing magicians under pen names, they favored utility and charm over polish, and many have become cult objects in their own right. Whether dealing with card sleights, stage illusions, or parlor gags, these books preserved a tactile, analog kind of wonder — before magic became all about big Vegas sets and television stunts.

Reel Magic by Albenice is a rare, self-published gem from the mid-20th century magic scene, focused on spool-based illusions and gimmicked effects involving reels, threads, and sleights. Compact and visually unique, this booklet includes blue-tone photographic plates laid out in hypnotic circular arrays, a nod to both stage magic and early cinema. Albenice, a lesser-known but respected magician, specialized in utility props and practical setups, and Reel Magic distills years of working experience into clear, diagrammed routines. This is a book that doesn’t just describe tricks — it teaches timing, misdirection, and stagecraft. Scarce in any condition, and especially tough to find complete and intact, it’s a perfect addition to the shelves of working magicians, magic historians, or anyone building out a collection of mid-century conjuring culture.

A hard-to-find piece of magic history with reels, reveals, and real charm — with Presto the Digitator’s previous owner stamp on the title page!