This is a good list of magic books and items to get you started in your magical journey. The links are affiliate links – they cost you nothing extra – but do help support this site. Happy shopping… and keep practicing!
Click the pictures to view the item information.
This is a very complete magic course for magicians. The book starts with the very basics, teaches some instant tricks, then goes into more advanced moves and tricks. It does not get too advanced but is a very good introduction.
Mark Wilson’s Complete Course in Magic
A very thorough introduction to the art of magic. Over 300 techniques are taught, and there are over 2,000 illustrations. The book is aimed at younger magicians, but has enough good information for magicians of any age. This book covers pretty much everything you need to get started in magic. There are effects in this book that you will see professional magicians still doing. Well illustrated, well explained.
Bobo’s is a must have! A very in-depth tutorial in all the sleights you need to be a coin master. Also, many of the sleights can be used for other small objects, not just coins.
Abbott’s Encyclopedia of Rope Magic
This book covers everything about rope work. Because it is an encyclopedia it has almost too much information. But it is indexed well, so you can find what you are looking for. It is illustrated, but not as well as I would like. A great reference book.
The Royal Road has been the standard card book for many years – for very good reason. This is great for magicians of all skill levels. Not too hard for beginners, but enough good information to be a reference book for your entire magical career.
2 Pack Bicycle Cards
12 Pack Bicycle Cards (6 Red, 6 Blue)
Bicycle Cards
The bicycle deck is the standard. Most gaff cards will be bicycle backed. Also, the bicycle card is so common, it is less suspicious. You will need a lot of cards while practicing magic! You will need even more cards when you start to perform. You can start with just a couple decks, but will want to get more as you study more. Set of 2 decks, or the box of 12 (has 6 red decks, and 6 blue decks).
Blue Deck
Red Deck
Blue Deck
Red Deck
Blue Deck
Red Deck
Svengali Deck
The svengali deck is a classic force deck. The volunteer freely picks (is forced to pick) any card (a specific card). You can cut the deck and their card will appear on top of any, or all, the stacks. No matter where you put the card into the deck – it is instantly back on top. You can even make the entire deck turn into their card. Available in red or blue bicycle backed cards.
This is a very fun trick to perform. The volunteer chooses a card, the card is then ripped into pieces – and restored! You will need to buy a good supply of extra cards to perform this trick.
Note – This is the exact wand I use and I cannot recommend it enough. Very well balanced, nice magnet, a beautiful wand. The only problem is that it does not come with a nice bag (I have velvet and made my own bag).
A professional quality magic wand. Unscrews into 4 pieces for storage. Can be assembled in 2 different lengths – 9 1/2 inches, or a little over 13 inches (24 & 34 cm). Includes a magnetic tip for extra magical effects.
Every magician needs a wand.
Cups and Balls (Aluminum Cups)
Said to be the oldest known magic trick, and still a favorite. The cups & balls is a fun routine, making balls appear & disappear from the 3 cups. At the end… the magician usually pulls apples or oranges out of the cups instead of the woven ball. As much fun to perform as it is to watch.
Chop Cup (Aluminum Cup)
A single cup routine similar to the cups & balls. A cup is used to make a ball appear or disappear – or even multiply.
Various Coins
Cheap coins can be spotted easily. You need to spend a little more to get quality coins. These are not professional quality but good for most magicians.
A classic coin trick using different color coins, and making one vanish. This is a nice set of gaffed coins.
Shinena 5 Pcs Steel Morgan Dollar
Replica Steel Morgan Dollar (3.8cm)
These replica Morgan dollars are made of steel which makes them perfect for magic for they can be attracted by magnets.
Note – The Sumag are my practice coins. They are well made and very comfortable to use. They do feel too light, but are very usable, and I doubt most people would notice the weight.
SUMAG Metal Magic Coins Steel Morgan Dollar Coin
These replica Morgan dollars are made of steel which makes them perfect for magic as they are attracted to magnets. The coins have milled edges but are by no means “soft coins”. Available in 5 piece or 10 piece set.
WSNMING 10 Pcs Steel Morgan Dollar
Steel Replica Morgan Dollar (3.8cm)
These replica Morgan dollars are made of steel which makes them perfect for magic as they are attracted to magnets.
D’Lites
Produce lights from your fingertips. A visually stunning routine, as the lights go around and through your body. Swallow it and pull it out your belly button, put it in one ear and out the other. Available in various colors.
A magnetic ring can be used for many effects. Most magicians have a PK ring in their kit. It is used for numerous effects. Perform Coin Thru Can Glass, Bottle Penetration, Psychic Matchbox, Haunted Deck Deck, and many more.
Make sure and measure your finger to get the right size ring. (Most rings are measured in millimeters because it is a more precise measurement.)
Your cane will instantly transform into a bouquet of flowers. A quick and visually stunning effect.
Set your wand in the vase and a flower magically appears. Fun and easy to do with a very simple reset.
Stiff Rope
Display a rope wrapped around your hand. Show the limp rope and make it visually stiffen and stand straight out. Then at your command it turns soft again. Coil it around your hand, hang it limply, or stand it out stiff. An easy and fun trick to perform.
Approximately 35 inches long
You can show the book with non-colored illustrations, then make them all colored, then become blank pages. You can display the pages changing back and forth from blank, outlined, & colored, as many times as you want. No reset, easy to perform.
This coloring book is a full 8 1/2×11 inch.
Change Bag with Zippered Bottom
A change bag can be used to make items appear, disappear, or transform. The zippered bottom allows the bag to be shown empty – all the way through, then you can produce anything you want from the seemingly empty bag.
Push a silk into your hand and it transforms into an egg. Pretend to show the audience how it is done – the egg is hollow and has a hole to put the scarf. Perform the trick again, the audience thinks the egg is the rubber… then you crack it open and it is a real egg!
Vernet Thumb Tips
The thumb tip is a very powerful magic tool that is underestimated by many newer magicians. There are numerous great effects that can be done with a thumb tip. Do not worry if the color is not exactly your skin tone – when used properly the audience will never see it.
They come in different sizes and firmness.
Magician’s silks are designed to crumple very tiny, and display big and bright. You will need silks in various sizes and colors, depending on your routines.
Sponge Balls
The sponge balls are very fun to perform and get amazing reactions from the participants. The balls apparently jump from one person’s hand to another. They will move between your pockets and hands. A very simple yet powerful routine.
Available in 1 1/1 inch or 2 inch balls.
Magician’s Rope
Rope magic is a classic of magic. You can do the standard Professor’s Nightmare or the more complex routines of Daryls or Richard Sanders. Rope can be a very powerful, and visual, routine. A full 15 minute show in one small bundle.
A very fun way to produce large volumes of paper from your mouth or hands. A very funny prop.
Magician’s Invisible Thread & Wax
Invisible thread is used to levitate objects. With practice the effects are incredible. Approximately 40 feet of thread. You will need to separate the strands to make it invisible. There are numerous strands so this is hundreds of feet of invisible thread.
This is 45 feet of invisible thread – 3 spools of 15 feet. The individual spools make this thread easier to carry and stay organized.
Chamberlain Golden Touch Lotion, 8.5 oz Sprayer
You may not think of lotion as a magic tool, but Chamberlain’s has been the choice of card workers for decades. Smooth and moisten your hands with no oily residue. This allows you to maneuver cards easily – and leaves no gunk on the cards like the oily lotions.
This is a game changer. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
