T. Nelson Downs (1867–1938)

This is a cheap paperback on pulp paper. It is a reprint of a classic volume by a master of coin manipulation, Thomas Nelson Downs, "The King of Koins." This reprint consists of about 50 coin tricks with 75 illustrations.

There is no table of contents and there is no index. You would not know from the cover of this paperback that it was Downs' classic work. The cover of this reprint carries the title, Magic Coin Tricks Anyone Can Do: Mystify Your Friends: Be the Center of Attraction. There is no mention of the famous author on the cover.

The truth is that very few people could ever master the skills required to perform the coin tricks described in this little volume. Downs could palm up to 60 coins at a time!

Contents
Chapter 1. The Miser's Dream.
Chapter 2. Coin Vanishes and Passes.
Chapter 4. Illusions and Combinations.
Chapter 5. Mechanical Devices.

Alas, there is no Chapter 3! For reasons known only to Stein Publishing, this chapter was removed from this reprint while retaining the original chapter numeration.

In the Preface, Downs says that this is his first book wherein he exposes his conjuring secrets. It was first published in 1900. Reprints of better quality than my copy are still being sold today.

The publisher of my copy, Max Stein, claimed a fresh 1941 Copyright by inserting four pages at the beginning of the book describing four additional coin tricks.… (mehr)