Hofzinser was born at the beginning of the 19th century and lived in Vienna during a time called the ‘Biedermeier’. This was a time where people enjoyed art and entertainment in drawing-room presentations and at little receptions in the houses and villas of the rich and famous. Hofzinser thus never performed on a stage but perfected the branch of magic today known as ‘Close-up’. One could argue that Hofzinser is the grandfather of close-up magic in particular close-up card magic. And this book is all about card magic. We have to thank Ottokar Fischer for collecting Hofzinser’s material about hundred years later. But a gap of hundred years is difficult to bridge. And today scholars argue about many details of Hofzinser’s life and particularly his tricks and inventions. Disregarding all the little details， Hofzinser without a doubt was one of the giants of close-up magic who discovered and invented many great pieces of deception. Anybody who wants to call himself a serious card man must study Hofzinser’s material.
Translation of ‘Kartenkünste’ by Ottokar Fischer; 1st edition， 1931， George Johnson， London; reprint， 1973， Karl Fulves; reprint， 1986， Dover Publications， New York; 188 pages.
Table of Contents
page page
Foreword
Editor’s Preface
Preface
Biography of J. N. Hofzinser
Guide to Performance
Experiments with Unprepared Cards
The Sympathetic Numbers
Synonymous Thoughts (First Method)
Association of Thoughts
The Four Eights
Experiments with Duplicate Unprepared Cards
Everywhere and Nowhere (First Method)
The Four Aces
The Metamorphosis of the Flying Card
Experiments with Double-Sided Cards
Sensation
Pre-Determination of Thought
Thought
The Power of Faith
The Four Kings
Experiments with Pre-arranged Packs
Domination of Thought (First Method)
Domination of Thought (Second Method)
Experiments with Divided Cards
Remember and Forget (First Method)
Remember and Forget (Second Method)
Remember and Forget (Third Method)
[Gary Kurtz is teaching his methodology in this video.]
Omnipotence of the Ladies
Deceive Your Neighbour as Yourself
The Married Hearts
The Married Hearts， the Loving Couple
The Queen of Hearts
The Mysterious Pack of Cards
Everywhere and Nowhere (Second Method)
Everywhere and Nowhere (Third Method)
Experiments with Differently Prepared Cards
Synonymous Thoughts (Second Method)
The Insoluble Impromptu
Lost， Stolen or Strayed – a King
Experiments with the application of Transparent Cards
The Ace of Hearts
Experiments with Mechanical Apparatus
The Flying Thought
The Three Powers
Appendix
Card Problems
