Do you know the famous Expanding Cube illusion was created by the French magician Joseph Buatier De Kolta?
By the way, this Expanding Cube illusion is also known as the “Expanding Die” and “Growing Die”.
This elaborate stage “Expanding Cube” trick is actually comprises of two illusions with two different effects.
The two effects are: the expansion of the cube and the appearance of the lady.
This rather elaborate stage illusion features a small 200 mm-side cube (or die) which quickly appears to grow into a larger size (800 mm).
Then when it is lifted up, to reveal a woman underneath.
When Buatier De Kolta first presented to the public, no one could fathom the secrets of this amazing “Expanding Cube” or “Expanding Die” illusion.
You can read the secret working of “Expanding Cube” illusion online over here. (Public Domain)
Welcome to another post taken from the Info Ruckus Free Books Google Search Results Page series.
Today the original De Kolta’s Expanding Cube apparatus is curated in David Copperfield’s International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts in Las Vegas.
Exclusive Magical Secrets: The Famous Locked Book Of Magic
Now you can find the secret of the “Expanding Cube” together with many other conjuring tricks in the book “Exclusive Magical Secrets: The Famous Locked Book Of Magic” by Will Goldston.
Besides the “Expanding Die” trick, this French magician Joseph Buatier De Kolta is best known for these three stunning stage illusions:
You can find the secrets of both “The Cone Of Flowers” trick and his “Disappearing Lady Illusion” (De Kolta Chair) in this book:
Magic, Stage Illusions And Scientific Diversions Including Trick Photography, Compiled And Edited By Albert A. Hopkins (Public Domain)
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Another detailed explanation of the paper flowers production from paper cone trick is found in MAGIC: The Magazine Of Wonder Vol. 1 No. 2, March 1910. (Public Domain)
The Disappearing Lady Illusion/De Kolta Chair Secret
By the way, the De Kolta Chair illusion was exposed by the Masked Magician, as you can watch from this video:
De Kolta Chair Illusion Plan By Paul Osborne
You can find a detailed plan of building the “De Kolta Chair” in Paul Osborne’s “Illusion Systems Book Two: Build Your Own Illusions“.
Paul Osborne also included an idea called “The Dekolta Sneak”, where you don’t need the stage with a trapdoor.
Vanishing Birdcage Illusion Secret
The Vanishing Birdcage illusion is actually a specially-designed collapsible cage, and it is attached to an elastic cord which runs up one of the sleeves of the magician’s jacket.
You can views the Vanishing Bird Cage secret revealed video clips over here and here.
Here is another magic trick by Buatier De Kolta using a cage for disappearance effect.
The Expanding Cube Illusion
It is Buatier de Kolta’s final and legendary creation.
It is mentioned in Jim Steinmeyer’s book “Hiding The Elephant“, Will Goldston purchased this piece of prop after de Kolta’s death in 1908.
Later Goldston sold Expanding Cube Illusion prop to Harry Houdini aka “The World’s Handcuff King and Prison Breaker”.
Without Houdini’s knowledge or permission, he included this Expanding Cube or Die in this book.
Therefore, escape artist and a magician Houdini was very angry to discover that this Expanding Die trick was no longer an exclusive secret.
(source: Hiding The Elephant By Jim Steinmeyer, Arrow Books, 2005, Ch. 12. Houdini, P. 253)
Interestingly, Will Goldston dedicated this book to Harry Houdini.
This “Expanding Die” stage illusion is found in Part VII of the “Exclusive Magical Secrets” book.
Will Goldston had devoted 29 pages on this particular illusion, with ample illustrations.
Levitation of Princess Karnac
The other big secret is the “Kellar’s Floating Lady” or better known as “Levitation of Princess Karnac” is found in this Will Goldston’s book.
For those who are not even into stage magic, I am sure they have come across one of these posters of Harry Kellar’s levitation act below.
This levitation illusion was Harry Kellar’s most famous act during life-long career.
The performance is where a sleeping woman who rises from the couch.
3 Volumes Exclusive Magical Secrets
The “Exclusive Magical Secrets” was published in 1921.
This is the first volume of the three books by Will Goldston which said to have upset many magicians.
People accused him of revealing their trade secrets allegedly either without permission or without attributing the creators of illusions.
But in “Additional Notes” in the beginning of the book, this was what Will Goldston wrote:
“Some have given me valuable secrets of their own, some have passed on to me secrets they have acquired from others; some have shown me improvements of apparatus and new methods of performance which they have perfected. […] In many cases the explanations printed in this volume were supplied to me expressly for that purpose by the inventors, and are acknowledged accordingly, But in other cases the origin of the particular trick or illusion is not clear, and acknowledgment has not been possible.”
The Famous Locked Book Of Magic
The following two books are: “More Exclusive Magical Secrets” and “Further Exclusive Magical Secrets”.
This original book comes with red leather binding and with a pair of metal clasp between the two covers, for you to lock it up.
So that no one can freely access all the magic trick secrets of this book.
As a result, they called this book as “The Famous Locked Book Of Magic”.
At that time, people had to subscribe to this “Exclusive Magical Secrets” and there were only 1,000 copies available.
Every copy purchased had the name of the subscriber gold-stamped on the cover.
Above all, the subscribers had to sign an agreement not to expose the secrets inside to anyone.
Subsequently, when some of the original subscribers passed away, they buried together with their copy of this book.
Most importantly, if you are a devoted magic collector, you definitely want to get your hand on these three tomes.
Secrets From Famous Illusionists
Among the many of the illusion secrets included here are from: Chung Ling Soo, Harry Houdini, Servais Le Roy, Conradi, Chefalo, Oswald Williams and Chris Van Bern and others, together with some of Goldston’s own ideas.
You can find clearly-drawn illustrations in this amazing conjuring book.
It is divided into twelve parts: Pocket Tricks, Drawing-Room Tricks, Stage Tricks, Chinese Magic, Magic Tips, Harry Houdini’s Tricks, Buatier de Kolta, Comedy Tricks, Quick Changes, Automata, Juggling and Stage Illusions.
Here is the list of the person behind each trick in this book.
Famous Tricks And Illusions
There are lots of great tricks and illusions.
For example: The Disappearing Piano, The Flying Lamp, The Lady who Revolves in Mid-Air and The Tea Chest Mystery.
There are lots of concepts and ideas from these old magic tricks which you can improvise and come up with your own magical innovations.
This magic e-book found online is from a new edition published by Dover Publications.
The cover featured one of the famous posters of Hungarian-born American illusionist and stunt performer, Harry Houdini.
Professor Hoffmann wrote the Introduction of “Exclusive Magical Secrets”.
READ ALSO:
Here are free magic books by Professor Hoffmann you can download right away.
Get this free e-book Exclusive Magical Secrets: The Famous Locked Book Of Magic now by clicking on any of the links below:
Exclusive Magical Secrets: The Famous Locked Book Of Magic By Will Goldston
To download this book free online, type: Exclusive Magical Secrets pdf or Exclusive Magical Secrets epdf.pub in Google search. It is also found in: vdoc.pub, PDFDrive and Z-Library.
Will Goldston Exclusive Magical Secrets
Will Goldston was a performing magician.
It all started with a box of tricks, and like many magician wannabes, he read Professor Hoffmann’s “Modern Magic”, just like the character in the novel “The Manual Of Darkness” by Enrique de Heriz.
English stage magician who once performed under the stage name “Carl Devo”.
When he was twenty-one years old, Goldston was already popular doing the Black Art acts.
Aside being a magician, a magic dealer, and entertainment manager, Will Goldston was also an author, editor and publisher of countless books.
He used to have magic store Will Goldston Limited, Aladin House at No. 14, Green Street, Leicester Square, London.
According to British magician Paul Freeman, the 1946 short film, “Dave And Dusty Magic Shop” by British Pathé was shot in the Goldston’s magic shop as shown above.
He was the editor of the magic periodicals, “The Magician Monthly”, “Magazine Of Magic” and “Goldston’s Magical Quarterly”.
In addition, Will Goldston also edited “The Magician Annual”; a yearly publication featuring portraits of well-known magicians, together with write-up of some of their best tricks and illusions.
Books Published By Will Goldston Limited, London
These are three books of magic tricks published by Will Goldston Limited.
In 1921 Will Goldston published Harry Houdini’s book “Magical Rope Ties And Escapes”.
Among the more than thirty tricks found here are: “The Kellar Tie”, “The Jacobi Tie”, “The Thumb Tie”, “Lock And Chain Sack Escape”, “Under-Water Escapes” and more.
This book is illustrated with both photographs and line drawings.
Magical Rope Ties And Escapes By Houdini
To get this book free online, type any of these 3 search phrases: Magical Rope Ties And Escapes by Houdini pdf, Magical Rope Ties And Escapes by Houdini kupdf or Magical Rope Ties And Escapes by Houdini pdfcoffee in Google Search. This book is also available in: PDFDrive.
Will Goldston also published a book for the English magician and *shadowist Walter James Obree Smith (stage name Louis Nikola).
* Shadowist a performer using hands to form figures onto a screen using shadows.
The art of of performing a story or show using images made by hand shadows is called shadowgraphy or ombromanie.
Read/download free books on shadowgraphy below.
It was said that he derived his stage name Louis Nikola from the character Doctor Nikola of Australian novelist Guy Boothby‘s series of novels.
You can read/download free Dr. Nikola by Guy Boothby e-books online here and here. (Public Domain)
Magician Louis Nikola is known for invention “The Nikola Card System“, which is more advanced and deceptive than the Si Stebbins or Eight Kings Stack Card.
Magical Masterpieces By Louis Nikola
To find this book free online, type: Magical Masterpieces by Louis Nikola pdf or Magical Masterpieces by Louis Nikola kupdf in Google search.
Dutch magician Okito’s (Tobias Leendert Bamberg) first book was also published by Will Goldston Limited, Aladin House in 1921.
It is a good collection of practical sleights card & coin tricks, small and big effects, together with clearly drawn illustrations.
Okito Coin Box Secret Revealed
The popular close up magic trick “Okito Coin Box” is the creation of Tobias Bamberg or better known as Okito.
You can learn how the Okito Box coin penetration trick is done from this video.
The Okito Coin Box secret is also found in J. B. Bobo’s book “Modern Coin Magic“.
Quality Magic By Okito
To download this book free online, type: Quality Magic by Okito pdf or Quality Magic by Okito kupdf in Google search.
Will Goldston Spiritualism
According Houdini in William Lindsay Gresham’s book “Houdini: The Man Who Walked Through Walls” (Public Domain), Goldston was one of the very few magicians to ever be converted to spiritualism.
Interestingly, Goldston wrote that many mediums were frauds who used conjuring tricks in the first two chapters of his 1942 book “Tricks Of The Masters“.
Here is a good article about “Will Goldston: The Man & The Legend” by Fergus Roy, accompanied with supporting visuals.
More Free Books By Will Goldston
Below you can find many more free e-books by Will Goldston.
The pages are packed with stage illusions, manipulations, parlor tricks, mind-reading, escape tricks, spiritualism, puzzles and even juggling.
You can also read great stories of famous conjurers of the past, which include David Devant, Chung Ling Soo, The Great Kellar, Harry Houdini, and The Great Lafayette – The Most Hated Magician.
Stage Illusions, Compiled And Edited By Will Goldston (Public Domin)
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Great Tricks Revealed By Will Goldston (Public Domain)
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Secrets Of Famous Illusionists By Will Goldson (Public Domain)
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Tricks Of The Masters By Will Goldston (Public Domain)
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Card & Ball Tricks With Patter By Will Goldston (Public Domain)
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
Easy Magic With Patter Part One By Will Goldston (Public Domain)
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Will Goldston’s Easy Road To Magic In Seven Lessons (Public Domain)
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Sensational Tales of Mystery Men By Will Goldston (Public Domain)
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Magic For The Forces By Will Goldston (Public Domain)
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A Magician’s Swan Song By Will Goldston (Public Domain)
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Looking Into The Future By Will Goldston (Public Domain)
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Crystal Gazing. Astrology, Palmistry, Planchette, And Spiritualism By Will Goldston (Public Domain)
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More Tricks And Puzzles Without Mechanical Apparatus By Will Goldston (Public Domain)
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Juggling Secrets By Will Goldston (Public Domain)
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The Complete Book Of Hand Shadows By Louis Nikola (Public Domain)
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The Art of Shadowgraphy: How It Is Done By Trewey
The Art Of Hand Shadows By Albert Almoznino
Hand Shadows: And More Hand Shadows To Be Thrown Upon The Wall By Henry Bursill
More Hand Shadows To be Thrown Upon The Wall By Henry Bursill
Shadowplay By George Mendoza And Prasanna Rao
Home Fun By Cecil H. Bullivant
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