This is from a Private Estate in Like New Condition. These are all first edition hardcover books with the original dust jacket all in almost new condition. The vol 2 book does have some sun damage near the top of the spine on the dust jacket.
First Edition
The Vernon Chronicles Vol 1 The Lost Inner Secret
This volume contains more than fifty sleights, tricks and routines with cards and coins. They are fully explained in these pages for the first time. The material is vintage Vernon, the magic that made him a legend among magicians; expert magic that has made one reputation and will make others. Included in this deluxe volume are rich insights into the thinking and psychology that is known as "The Vernon Touch", and historical anecdotes that are both entertaining and informative. Numerous rare photos and pieces of memorabilia from the Professor's private collection have been added, as well as a biographical essay on him by Elizabeth Wilson.
The Vernon Chronicles Vol 2 More Lost Inner Secret
This second volume of The Vernon Chronicles picks up where Volume 1 ended in documenting the large body of exceptional magic created by Dai Vernon and, with few exceptions, never published in any form before now.
Over fifty Vernon tricks and routines are fully detailed in these pages. There are chapters of impossible card locations, transpositions, ace tricks and a wide assortment of other effects. There are linking ring moves, entire silk routines and a trick with flying walnuts! There are tricks for close-up and platform, tricks to fool laymen and to fool magicians, tricks that require sleight-of-hand and tricks that are self-working.
The Vernon Chronicles Vol 3 Further Lost Inner Secret
This third volume of The Vernon Chronicles offers another generous serving of superb magic from the repertoire of magic's most revered Professor, Dai Vernon.
The book opens with a special essay, which surveys a cross section of the close-up magic being done by New York City's avant-garde during the seminal 1920s and 1930s. William P. Miesel constructed the skeleton of this historical excursion from the columns in the old Sphinx magazine. Prominent there were Dai Vernon and his friends; people like Sam Horowitz, Ted Annemann, and Luis Zingone. Mr. Miesel selected some of their more intriguing effects and, in collaboration with Dai Vernon, Max Maven, Bruce Cervon and Stephen Minch, the methods were reconstructed as accurately as is possible. This study is an important historical document, and a revealing chapter in the life of Dai Vernon.
The Vernon Chronicles Vol 4 He Fooled Houdini by Bruce Cervon and Keith Burns
This fourth volume of The Vernon Chronicles is a complete change of pace from the three that preceded it. In the works since 1965, this enthralling anecdotal autobiography follows Dai Vernon from his birth to his coming to Hollywood's world famous Magic Castle in 1963. As you read you will feel as if you are sitting with Dai at the Magic Castle while he shares the stories and experiences of his lifetime.
You will learn far more magic here than from any mere book of tricks as Dai talks about his "Attack on Magic", "Practice", "On Using Trick Cards", "Secrets", "Effects Defined", "Shade", "Authority", "Great Tricks", "Classics" and "What's Wrong With Magic".
Dai describes the techniques he used to establish his world-wide reputation and introduces you to many legends of magic; his idols, such as the great Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser and Max Malini. His inspirations - Nate Leipzig, Dr. James Elliott, the Challenge Card Champion of the World, and J. Warren Keane. Many others including Harry Houdini, Jud Cole, Fred Keating, Jarrow, Cliff Green, and Tommy Downs; as well as such colorful and intriguing characters as Mr. Shock, The Mysterious Kid, Old Snakey Davis, "Slip the Jit" Harry, and Garnet Lee, the Chinaman's toy.
This is the story of a life like no other, the story of the greatest natural magician the world has ever seen - the fantastic story of the man who fooled Houdini.
